Phylogeography and population history of the least weasel (Mustela nivalis) in the Palearctic based on multilocus analysis

Abstract

The least weasel (Mustela nivalis) is one of the most widely distributed carnivorans. While previous studies have identified distinct western and eastern mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) lineages of the species in the western Palearctic, their broader distributions across the Palearctic have remained unknown. To address the broad-scale phylogeographical structure, we expanded the sampling to populations in Eastern Europe, the Urals, the Russian Far East, and Japan, and analyzed the mtDNA control region and cytochrome b, the final intron of the zinc finger protein on Y chromosome (ZFY), and the autosomal agouti signaling protein gene (ASIP). The mtDNA data analysis exposed the previous western lineage (Clade I) but poorly supported assemblage extending across Palearctic, whereas the previous eastern lineage (Clade II) was reconfirmed and limited in the south western part of the Palearctic. The ZFY phylogeny showed a distinctive split that corresponding to the mtDNA lineage split, although less phylogeographical structure was seen in the ASIP variation. Our data concur with the previous inference of the Black Sea-Caspian Sea area having an ancestral character. The Urals region harbored high mitochondrial diversity, with an estimated coalescent time of around 100,000 years, suggesting this could have been a cryptic refugium. Based on the coalescent-based demographic reconstructions, the expansion of Clade I across the Palearctic was remarkably rapid, while Clade II was relatively stable for a longer time. It seems that Clade II has maintained a constant population size in the temperate region, and the expansive Clade I represents adaptation to the cold regions. K E Y W O R D SASIP, least weasel, mitochondrial DNA, Mustela nivalis, ZFY | 409 SATO eT Al.

The European Pine Marten Martes martes (Linnaeus, 1758) Is Autochthonous in Sicily and Constitutes a Well-Characterised Major Phylogroup within the Species (Carnivora, Mustelidae)

“…The current Sicilian Mammalian fauna originated following three main colonisation routes: (1) colonisation from northern Africa during late Miocene to the early Pliocene [ 26 ]; (2) colonisation from the Italian peninsula during the Pleistocene, from the early stages of this epoch [ 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 ] to the transition between its later stages and the early Holocene [ 31 , 32 , 33 ]; and (3) ancient [ 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 ] and recent [ 2 ] introductions by man. The second pattern is linked to the glacial and palaeogeographical events that occurred during the Pleistocene, which are known to have played a crucial role in shaping the current composition of the Italian biota [ 38 , 39 ].…”

“…The colonization of Sicily through Pleistocene land bridges also occurred for other carnivores such as the wild cat, Felis silvestris Schreber, 1777 [ 31 ], and the recently extinct wolf, Canis lupus Linnaeus, 1758 [ 32 ]. Conversely, current Sicilian populations of the weasel, Mustela nivalis , and of the red fox, Vulpes vulpes Linnaeus, 1758, seem to have a more complex origin since, despite both occur in the Pleistocene fossil record of Sicily [ 41 ], their genetic characteristics suggest a probable ancient man-mediated introduction [ 36 , 37 ].…”