Genetic differentiation of Caucasian wood mice: Comparison of isozymic, chromosomal and molecular divergence

Data on the complex genetic analysis of three sympatric species of Caucasia n wood mice, Apodemus ponticus, A. fulvipectus, and A. uralensis are presen ted. A high degree of genetic differentiation at the isozymic, karyological and molecular (nuclear DNA) levels was revealed. The genetic distances bet ween each pair of species varied significantly within a wide range dependin g an the analyzed level of the organization of genetic material. Mean value s of genetic divergence from one species to another were also variable. The se findings indicated that evolution of chromosomes was slower than that of isozymes, and the degree of species divergence was similar on cytogenetic and molecular levels. They also suggested that the rates of species evoluti on could vary in different phyletic lineages and on different levels of org anization. Some phyletic lineages of Apodemus could be distinguished by dif ferent directions of evolution.