Laboratory of Molecular Ecology

The main research trends – investigations into genetic diversity of various bird species and their natural populations, molecular and genetic mechanisms of adaptation. Investigations into variability of Anseriformes and Galliformes are carried out continuously. Recently a comparative analysis of sedentary and migratory populations of some model bird species, as well as cooperation with other subdivisions of the Institute in the field of studying the population structure and speciation of the animals of various taxonomic levels which is based on DNA analysis methods have been started.

In 1982 on the basis of two thematic groups the laboratory of Immunology and Genetics was set up at the Institute of Zoology and Parasitology of the Academy of Sciences of Lithuania. Prof. Aniolas Sruoga headed the Laboratory from 1983 to 2003. Fundamental research was conducted, expeditions to different regions of Lithuania, Kazakhstan, Siberia and the palearctic zone of the Far East were organised, applied work was carried out. In the course of existence of the Laboratory its 5 workers defended doctoral theses (E.Mozalienė, A.Paulauskas, R.Jankauskienė, V.Skrodenytė, D.Butkauskas) and Aniolas Sruoga prepared and defended a habilitation thesis and was awarded a degree of Doctor Habilitatus.

The Laboratory of Population Genetics was established in 2003 having reorganised the Laboratory of Immunogenetics. More…

Dalius Butkauskas, Dr – Head of Laboratory, Chief Researcher, tel. +370 5 272 92 87, e-mail: dalius@ekoi.lt

Genetic variability and population structure analysis of Galliformes

Aniolas Sruoga, Prof., Dr Habil. – Chief Researcher, tel. +370 5 272 92 87, e-mail: aniolas@ekoi.lt

Genetic variability and population structure analysis of waterfowl

Kristina Petronytė - assistant, tel. +370 5 272 92 87

Petras Prakas - doctoral student, tel. (5) 272 92 87, e. p. petrasprakas@yahoo.com

Adomas Ragauskas - doctoral student, tel. (5) 272 92 87, e. p. adomas.ragauskas@yahoo.com

Research Services

Projects

Assessment of population peculiarities, genetic variability and factors influencing the genus Sterna terns breeding in the Nemunas and the Dauguva basin (A.Sruoga, D.Butkauskas)

The comparative ecological and genetic analysis of migratory and sedentary populations of model bird species (S.Švažas, A.Sruoga, D.Butkauskas)

Publications

Butkauskas, D., Sruoga, A. 2004. Effect of lead and chromium on reproductive success of Japanese quail. Environmental Toxicology 19(4): 412–415.

Švažas, S., Sruoga, A., Paulauskas, A., Butkauskas, D. 2005. Population Structure Among Breeding and Wintering Long-tailed Ducks in the Western Palearctic. Ornis Svecica 15: 206-211.

Kutkienė, L., Sruoga, A. and Butkauskas, D. 2006. Sarcocystis sp. from white-fronted goose (Anser albifrons): cyst morphology and life cycle studies. Parasitology Research 99 (5): 562–565.

Skrodenytė-Arbačiauskienė, V., Sruoga, A. and Butkauskas, D. 2006. Assessment of microbial diversity in the river trout Salmo trutta fario L. intestinal tract identified by partial 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. Fisheries Science 72 (3): 597–602.

Butkauskas, D., Sruoga, A., Tubelytė-Kirdienė, V., Mozalienė, E. and Paulauskas, A. 2006. Enzyme polymorphism in two Japanese Quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) lines with different concentrations of plasma lactate. Acta Zoologica Lituanica 16 (3): 177–184.

Sruoga, A., Butkauskas, D., Prakas, P. and Paulauskas, A. 2006. Evaluation of the genetic structure of the breeding Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) population by means of microsatellite markers. Biologija 1: 47–52.

Butkauskas, D., Sruoga, A., Kutkienė, L. and Prakas, P. 2007. Investigation of the phylogenetic relationships of Sarcocystis spp. from Greylag (Anser anser) and White -fronted (Anser albifrons) geese to other cyst forming coccidia using 18S and 28S rRNA gene sequences. Acta Zoologica Lituanica 17 (2): 124–128.

Sruoga, A., Butkauskas, D., Ragauskas, A. and Ložys, L. 2007. Investigation of genetic variability in the European eel (Anguilla anguilla (L.)) in Lithuania using microsatellite DNA markers. Acta Zoologica Lituanica 17 (2): 116–123.

Sruoga, A., Rashal, I., Butkauskas, D. and Ložys, L. 2007. Variety of mtDNA haplotypes in the populations of the European perch (Perca fluviatilis) of the Curonian lagoon, the coastal zone of the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Riga. Proceedings of the Latvian Academy of Sciences. Section B 61 (3/4) (650/651): 91–95.

Kutkienė, L., Sruoga, A. and Butkauskas, D. 2008. Sarcocystis sp. from the Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) and the Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos): cyst morphology and ribosomal DNA analysis. Parasitology Research 102 (4): 691–696.

Skrodenytė-Arbačiauskienė, V., Sruoga, A., Butkauskas, D. and Skrupskelis, K. 2008. Phylogenetic analysis of intestinal bacteria of freshwater salmon Salmo salar and sea trout Salmo trutta trutta and diet. Fisheries science 74: 1307–1314.

Butkauskas, D., Švažas, S., Sruoga, A., Bea, A. and Grishanov, G. 2008. Variability of haplotypes among different populations of Woodpigeon (Columba palumbus) in southern Europe and in the eastern Baltic region. Acta Zoologica Lituanica 18 (2): 77–82.

Sruoga, A., Butkauskas, D., Rashal, I. 2008. Evaluation of genetic diversity of perch (Perca fluviatilis) and pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) populations from Curonian Lagoon and inshore waters of the Baltic Sea. Acta Biologica Universitatis Daugavpils 8: 81-88.

Kutkienė, L., Prakas, P., Sruoga, A. and Butkauskas, D. 2009. Sarcocystis in the birds family Corvidae with description of Sarcocystis cornixi sp. nov. from the hooded crow (Corvus cornix). Parasitology Research (2):329-336.

Sruoga, A.; Rashal, I.; Butkauskas, D.; Viksne, J.; Žalakevičius, M.; Švažas, S.; Kaminskaitė, M. 2009. Haplotypic variability and population genetic structure of Garganey and Common Pochard in the Western Palearctic. // Proceedings of the Latvian Academy of Sciences 63(3): 104-110.

Butkauskas, D., Ragauskas, A., Sruoga, A., Ložys, L., Tzeng, W.N. 2009. Current knowledge about European eel Anguilla anguilla (L.) mtDNA D-Loop region haplotypic variety. Acta Zoologica Lituanica. 19(4): 253-267.