| Abstract: | To elucidate the phylogenetic relationships of Alpine voles comprising the Microtus multiplex complex and related species the mitochondrial control region ( CR ) was employed as a genetic marker. Forty specimens were analysed representing the taxa Microtus liechtensteini , Microtus multiplex , and Microtus bavaricus (samples from 11 geographic regions) as well as specimens of Microtus subterraneus , Microtus tatricus , Microtus arvalis , Microtus agrestis , Microtus oeconomus , and Chionomys nivalis. The haplotypes from Tuscany and the Swiss canton of Valais can be ascribed to M. multiplex , whereas the haplotypes isolated from the geographic samples from Croatia, Slovenia, Carinthia, Styria, East Tyrol, and South Tyrol represent M. liechtensteini . The molecular data indicate that the distribution range of M. liechtensteini extends further to the north (Upper Styria) than has been assumed earlier. The haplotypes of M. bavaricus , together with the populations from North Tyrol, form a cluster clearly separated from M. liechtensteini . This result suggests that the North Tyrolean samples belong to M. bavaricus , a species thought to be extinct. Microtus tatricus splits off at the basis of the multiplex complex. Our sequence data do not support a close relationship between M. bavaricus and M. tatricus . The phylogenetic relationships deduced from the sequence data favour a hypothesis assuming three glacial refugia, in which M. multiplex , M. liechtensteini and M. bavaricus , respectively, survived the last one or two Alpine glaciations. |
