Lampreys: Evolution, Distribution and Use in Research (Marine and Freshwater Biology)

At present, two native lamprey species occur in the Czech Republic, namely the brook lamprey and the Ukrainian lamprey. Lampreys: Evolution, Distribution and Use in Research begins by summarizing the available knowledge about the biology, ecology, distribution, monitoring of occurrence and action plans/recovery programmes for the aforementioned species. Following this, the occurrence of lampreys of the genus Lethenteron in 19 rivers and one lake in Sakhalin Island is documented, and sex differences in adults in respect to morphometric parameters are also presented. Mammalian blood clotting is presented as an extremely complex phenomenon involving more than two dozen proteins interacting in a series of limited proteolytic events partitioned into two calcium-dependent pathways. Some clotting proteins in mammals are present in only trace amounts, and proving their absence or presence in lampreys was not possible until the era of whole genome sequencing. As such, the authors retrace this development from a personal standpoint.