@article{fdi:010053714,
  title = {{E}xtensive {R}obertsonian polymorphism in the {A}frican rodent {G}erbillus nigeriae : geographic aspects and meiotic data},
  author = {{H}ima, {K}. and {T}hiam, {M}. and {C}atalan, {J}. and {G}authier, {P}hilippe and {D}uplantier, {J}ean-{M}arc and {P}iry, {S}. and {S}emb{\`e}ne, {M}. and {B}ritton-{D}avidian, {J}. and {G}ranjon, {L}aurent and {D}obigny, {G}authier},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{R}obertsonian ({R}b) fusions are one of the most frequent types of chromosomal rearrangements and have greatly contributed to the evolution of mammalian genome architecture. {A}part from rare exceptions, investigations at the species level (i.e. polymorphism) are almost exclusively restricted to two mammalian models, namely the house mouse {M}us musculus domesticus (2n = 22-40) and the common shrew {S}orex araneus (2n = 20-33). {Y}et, these two species display important but usually locally restricted {R}b polymorphisms. {A}nother rodent species, {G}erbillus nigeriae, has also been shown to display a wide range of diploid number variation (2n = 60-74) due to {R}b polymorphism. {H}owever, data about the latter species are rather scarce. {W}e provide here a survey including recapitulation of 137 available karyotypic data that were implemented with 241 new records, thus allowing us to draw the first map of 2n variation throughout the species range. {F}irst, truly segregating centric fusions are observed in almost all localities investigated. {M}oreover, the geographic patterns (from 79 {W}est {A}frican localities in total) show that local 2n variations are clearly lower than those observed at a wider scale, thus leading to some spatial structuring that may reflect phylogeographic assemblages. {T}he meiotic study of 13 male specimens allowed us to identify several instances of double and triple {R}b heterozygous individuals, and strongly suggested that heterozygosity is more the rule than the exception in the species. {F}rom there, it is tempting to speculate that the extraordinary {R}b plasticity observed in {G}. nigeriae may be selectively maintained and confer adaptability to this species, which inhabits unstable {S}ahelian environments, where it is able to colonize efficiently habitats that undergo rapid human-mediated and/or climatic changes.},
  keywords = {chromosome evolution ; centric fusions ; meiosis ; {M}uridae ; {G}erbillinae ; {W}est {A}frica},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{J}ournal of {Z}oology},
  volume = {284},
  numero = {4},
  pages = {276--285},
  ISSN = {0952-8369},
  year = {2011},
  DOI = {10.1111/j.1469-7998.2011.00803.x},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010053714},
}