Application of the Hardy-Weinberg's equation for analysis of geographical variation of the yellow-necked mouse Apodemus flavicollis (Muridae, Rodentia)

A method is proposed to detect a correlation between the phenotypic and gen otypic variations of some morphological characters. The genetic variation o f a character is characterized by the frequencies of "balanced genotype fra ctions" and "conventional alleles" that are calculated using the Hardy-Wein berg's equation. Such a correlation was shown for the necked spot and some cranial characters in Apodemus flavicollis and for the A. alpicola necked s pot. These characters may characterize not only morphological, but also gen etic differences between populations, as well as differences in their geogr aphical distribution. The genetic variability of northern and eastern A. fl avicollis populations is reduced, and reasons of this phenomenon are discus sed. Many cranial characteristics show the absence of correlation between t he phenotypic and genotypic variations.