No abstract

reflects its extreme isolation. This factor, coupled with inbreeding and genetic drift, are major threats to JW. A neighbor-joining tree based on mtDNA haplotypes shows that JW clusters among samples representing the Central subgroup that is known from central Germany but that has not yet been identified in Poland. Findings presented here improve our understanding of the spread and diversification of the common hamster. We offer the following hypotheses to explain the observed pattern of mtDNA haplotype distribution: JW could be a byproduct of postglacial migrations or back-migrations from eastern refugia to the western part of Europe, or/and be a result of population and habitat fragmentation. We recommend translocation of individuals as an effective management strategy, both at the level of Central phylogeographic group and at the species level, to overcome the negative consequences of inbreeding and geographical isolation of the JW population.

We developed primers for eight polymorphic microsatellite loci in the endangered common hamster (Cricetus cricetus L.). Population genetic parameters were analysed on the basis of 70 adult individuals captured from a single population. Allele numbers per locus ranged from eight to 17. Expected and observed heterozygosities per locus ranged from 0.67 to 0.91 and from 0.41 to 0.8, respectively.

No abstract

No abstract