Species Formation and Adaptive Radiation: Subterranean Blind Mole Rats as an Evolutionary Model

This project studies active speciation and adaptive radiation of the subterranean
blind mole rat (genus Spalax), which serves as a major evolutionary model. Investigations include components of pre- and post-mating isolating mechanisms of speciation; and genetic (proteins and DNA) and phenotypic (morphology, physiology, behavior) adaptations to life underground.
Particular attention is focused on the loss of sight due to life underground and compensation by other communication modalities, and to respiratory adaptations to life in the hypoxic- hypercapnic underground environment. Special projects include (a) brain structure and function; (b) vocalization; (c) seismic (vibrational) communication; (d) olfaction communication; (e) photoperiodic perception; (f) magnetic orientation; (g) genetic basis of behavior, primarily of circadian rhythms; (h) chromosome, allozyme (enzyme variation), variation, and DNA structure: (i) evolution of mole rats in Israel, Turkey and Jordan in terms of the origin of species and their adaptive radiation; (j) structure and evolution of aggression and pacifism; (k) respiratory adaptations to life underground; and (l) brain architecture and reorganization.
Mole rats become a promising genetic resource for hypoxic genes and biological clock genes (see list of publications of Prof. E. Nevo and the recent book: Nevo E., 1999, Oxford University Press ; List of publication of Dr. Aaron Avivi), List of publication of Dr. Tomas Pavliceck.

Few papers published in the Proc Natl Acad Sci (found by search in Pubmed (NCBI)

	Roguin, A. Avivi, A,, Nitecki, S., Levy, N.S., Resnick, M.B, Hofman, A., Nevo, E., and Levy, A.P
	Restoration of Blood Flow Using Continuous Infiltration of Plasmid DNA Encoding Mole Rat VEGF. Proc.natl. Acad. Sci. USA 100: 4644-4648 (2003)
	Avivi A, Oster H, Joel A, Beiles A, Albrecht U, Nevo E.
	Circadian genes in a blind subterranean mammal II: conservation and uniqueness of the three Period homologs in the blind subterranean mole rat, Spalax ehrenbergi superspecies. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2002 Sep 3;99(18):11718-23. PMID: 12193657 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
	Hough RB, Avivi A, Davis J, Joel A, Nevo E, Piatigorsky J.
	Adaptive evolution of small heat shock protein/alpha B-crystallin promoter activity of the blind subterranean mole rat, Spalax ehrenbergi. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2002 Jun 11;99(12):8145-50. PMID: 12060761 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
	Avivi A, Albrecht U, Oster H, Joel A, Beiles A, Nevo E.
	Biological clock in total darkness: the Clock/MOP3 circadian system of the blind subterranean mole rat. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2001 Nov 20;98(24):13751-6. PMID: 11707566 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
	Widmer HR, Hoppeler H, Nevo E, Taylor CR, Weibel ER.
	Working underground: respiratory adaptations in the blind mole rat. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1997 Mar 4;94(5):2062-7.
	Nevo E, Filippucci MG, Redi C, Korol A, Beiles A.
	Chromosomal speciation and adaptive radiation of mole rats in Asia Minor correlated with increased ecological stress. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1994 Aug 16;91(17):8160-4. PMID: 8058774 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]