Chromosomes of Pelophylax ridibundus Pallas, 1771 in different population systems of southern Ukraine

Abstract

Abstract This paper provides the comparative morphological analysis of P. ridibundus chromosomes in different population systems of southern Ukraine. A certain variability and heteromorphism of individual homologs and of whole chromosome pairs was established. The chromosomes of P. ridibundus in populations consisting of a single species (Crimea, Zalisne, Arabat Spit) are relatively stable in quantitative and qualitative terms. Karyotypes are more variable in the lower reaches of the Dnipro River and Kharkiv Region, where the hybridogenic taxon P. esculentus lives together with P. ridibundus. It is assumed that such a relative constancy of chromosomes of southern Ukrainian P. ridibundus in pure RR-systems indicates both a high potential of their resistance to factors and an intraspecific genetic balance. This study is especially important in terms of conservation and enhancement of genetic and biological diversity, which mainly ensures the sustainability of ecosystems functioning.