Genetic differentiation among natural populations of the lizard complex Darevskia raddei as inferred from genome microsatellite marking

Abstract

The article presents the genetic parameters of the populations of lizards of the Darevskia raddei complex (D. raddei nairensis and D. raddei raddei) and the populations of D. valentini calculated on the basis of the analysis of variability of 50 allelic variants of the three nuclear genome microsatellite containing loci of 83 individuals. It was demonstrated that the F st genetic distances between the populations of D. raddei nai rensis and D. raddei raddei were not statistically significantly different from the F st genetic distances between the populations of different species, D. raddei and D. valentini. At the same time, these distances were statis tically significantly higher than the F st distances between the populations belonging to one species within the genus Darevskia. These data suggest deep divergence between the populations of D. raddei raddei and D. rad dei nairensis of the D. raddei complex and there arises the question on considering them as separate species.

Extraordinary centromeres: differences in the meiotic chromosomes of two rock lizards speciesDarevskia portschinskiiandDarevskia raddei

“…An interesting finding was the detection of additional ACA foci in SC preparations of the most closely related species, D. raddei nairensis (in supplemental data: see ‘Data Availability’ section). D. raddei and D. raddei nairensis are considered recently divergent species, and are actively investigated as a model system for the study of speciation mechanisms (Omelchenko et al, 2016). …”

“…The origin of parthenogenetic species from the hybridization of bisexual species has been confirmed from detailed studies of skin transplantation (Darevsky & Danielyan, 1979; Danielyan, 1987; Korkiya, 1976), allozyme data (Murphy et al, 1996, 2000; Uzzell & Darevsky, 1974, 1975; MacColloch et al, 1995), mitochondrial (Moritz et al, 1992; Fu, 1998; Fu, Murphy & Darevsky, 1997, 2000), and nuclear DNA sequences (Freitas et al, 2016; Ryskov et al, 2017; Khan et al, 1998; Tokarskaya et al, 2001; Grechko et al, 2006; Omelchenko et al, 2016). …”

New records and geographic distribution of the sympatric zones of unisexual and bisexual rock lizards of the genus Darevskia in Armenia and adjacent territories

“…The bisexual species, D. raddei , is considered as a complex ( Darevskia raddei sensu lato) containing four forms (subspecies) “raddei”, “nairensis”, “vanensis” and “chaldoranensis” ( Grechko et al 2007 , Rastegar-Pouyani et al 2012 , Omelchenko et al 2016 , Freitas et al 2016 ). However, the subspecies “ raddei ” ( D. r. raddei ) is the only form widely distributed in Armenia, Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan and the northern province of Ardabil of Iran ( Freitas et al 2016 ).…”

“…However, the subspecies “ raddei ” ( D. r. raddei ) is the only form widely distributed in Armenia, Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan and the northern province of Ardabil of Iran ( Freitas et al 2016 ). Identification of D. r. raddei individuals in different SZs was undertaken by authors using allozyme markers, mt-DNA, multilocus DNA fingerprinting, mini- and micro-satellite markers and morphological traits ( Bobyn et al 1996 , Fu et al 2000a , Grechko et al 2007 , Korchagin et al 2007 , Korchagin and Tokarskaya 2010 , Omelchenko et al 2016 , Freitas et al 2016 ). In the field, D. r. raddei was identified using identification guides according to Darevsky ( Darevsky 1967 ) (Fig.…”

“…This species is “maternal” for at least five parthenogenetic forms — D. unisexualis , D. uzzelli , D. bendimahiensis , D. sapphirina and D. rostombekowi ( Fu et al 1997 ). Darevskia raddei is considered as a species complex ( Darevskia raddei sensu lato) containing four forms of “ raddei ”, “ nairensis ”, “ vanensis ” and “ chaldoranensis ” ( Grechko et al 2007 , Rastegar-Pouyani et al 2012 , Omelchenko et al 2016 ). "Paternal" species belong to the clade "rudis" ( D. valentini and D. portschinskii ) and "maternal" species - "caucasica" ( D. mixta and D. r. raddei ).…”