Evidence of complex phylogeographic structure for the threatened rodent <Emphasis Type="Italic">Leopoldamys neilli</Emphasis>, in Southeast Asia |
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Authors: | Alice Latinne Surachit Waengsothorn Vincent Herbreteau Johan R Michaux |
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Institution: | 1.Institut de Botanique, B 22,Université de Liège,Liège (Sart Tilman),Belgium;2.Environment and Resources Technology Department,Thailand Institute of Scientific and Technological Research,Changwat Pathum Thani,Thailand;3.CIRAD, UR AGIRs (Animal et Gestion Intégrée des Risques),Montferrier-sur-Lez Cedex,France;4.CBGP (Centre de Biologie et de Gestion des Populations),UMR INRA/IRD/Cirad/Montpellier SupAgro,Montferrier-sur-Lez Cedex,France |
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Abstract: | Leopoldamys neilli is a threatened murine rodent species endemic to limestone karsts of Thailand. We have studied the phylogeography of L. neilli using two mitochondrial markers (cytb, COI) and one nuclear fragment (bfibr), in order to assess the influence of its endemicity
to karst habitat. One hundred fifteen individuals of L. neilli were collected in 20 localities throughout the geographic range of this species in Thailand. Our study revealed strong geographic
structure of the mtDNA genetic diversity: six highly differentiated, allopatric genetic lineages were observed in our dataset.
They exhibit a very high degree of genetic divergence, low gene flow among lineages and low levels of haplotype and nucleotide
diversities within lineages. Our results suggest that L. neilli’s populations are highly fragmented due to the scattered distribution of its karst habitat. The most divergent lineage includes
the populations from western Thailand, which have been separated from the other genetic lineages since at least the Early
Pleistocene. The other lineages are more closely related and have diverged since the Middle Pleistocene. This study revealed
an unexpected high level of genetic differentiation within L. neilli and highlighted the high endemicity of this species to limestone karsts. Our results enhance the importance of protecting
limestone habitats to preserve not only the species but also intraspecific diversity. |
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