Microsatellite markers confirm extensive population fragmentation of the endangered Balkan palaeoendemic Martino’s vole (Dinaromys bogdanovi)

Abstract

The Martino's vole is an endangered rodent endemic to the western Balkan Peninsula. Its range is fragmented, and populations are small due to high habitat specificity. The level of genetic variation within such populations is often low, and genetic differentiation between patchily dispersed populations is high. By scoring eight microsatellite loci in 110 individual Martino's voles originating from 27 locations throughout the species range, we analysed genetic variation at both the intra-and interpopulation level. Factorial correspondence analysis, Bayesian analyses, and allele sharing distances divided individuals into three phylogroups (Northwestern, Central, and Southeastern), thus providing independent support for phylogeographic structuring, a pattern that has been described in previous studies based on mitochondrial DNA. Spatial genetic analyses showed that populations are highly fragmented, even in those areas with the highest population densities. The highest intrapopulation genetic variability and stable effective population sizes were found in Mount Zelengora (Bosnia and Herzegovina), which harbours a relatively large population of Martino's voles. Populations in the Central and Southeastern lineages exhibited a significant isolation-by-distance pattern, indicating limited gene flow between them. Contrary to previous opinion, low effective population size and very limited gene flow between remaining populations suggest that the long-term existence of the Martino's vole might not be secure, even in populations that live in optimal habitats. The only threat to the Martino's vole identified thus far is competitive exclusion by the European snow vole. However, our results suggest that conservation problems associated with this paleoendemic rodent are more complex.

Combined Mitochondrial and Nuclear Markers Revealed a Deep Vicariant History for Leopoldamys neilli, a Cave-Dwelling Rodent of Thailand

“…Such deep genealogical divergence among geographically close lineages is quite surprising and denotes a high population fragmentation related to the patchy distribution of limestone karsts and a close association of L. neilli with this habitat. Similar phylogeographic patterns are rare among rodents but have been observed for a few other rodent species strongly dependent on rocky and karstic habitats in various regions of the world, such as the Laotian rock rat Laonastes aenigmamus in Central Lao PDR [69], the Martino's vole Dinaromys bogdanovi in the western Balkans [70], [71] and the Allegheny woodrat Neotoma magister in northeastern America [72]. Our study suggests that the spatial isolation of karsts prevents extensive migration among lineages of L. neilli .…”

Gene flow and population structure of a common agricultural wild species (Microtus agrestis) under different land management regimes

“…The values, however, fall within the same order of magnitude of other studies calculating effective N e for rodent species (Antolin et al, 2001;Buzan et al, 2010). In accordance with the other analyses, the estimated effective N e showed a significantly positive correlation with the amount of unmanaged available habitat (as expected), but not with the total size of the habitat.…”

Voles and Lemmings (Arvicolinae) of the Palaearctic Region

“…(Kryštufek et al 2007). The major genetic (K2P) distance is indicative of a speciation event and the Mt-structuring was supported by microsatellite markers (Buzan et al 2010a). We therefore classify the two major lineages as distinct species.…”