Genetic structure in peripheral populations of the natterjack toad, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bufo calamita</Emphasis>, as revealed by AFLP |
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Authors: | Björn Rogell Hanna Thörngren Stefan Palm Anssi Laurila Jacob Höglund |
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Institution: | 1.Population Biology and Conservation Biology/Department of Ecology and Evolution, Evolutionary Biology Centre,Uppsala University,Uppsala,Sweden;2.Animal Ecology/Department of Ecology and Evolution, Evolutionary Biology Centre,Uppsala University,Uppsala,Sweden |
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Abstract: | Decreased fitness due to loss of genetic variation is a well recognised issue in conservation biology. Along the Swedish west
coast, the endangered natterjack toad (Bufo calamita) occurs on, for the species, highly unusual habitat of rocky islands. Although the toads inhabit a restricted geographical
area (maximum distance between the populations is 71 km), the fragmented nature of the landscape makes the genetic properties
of the populations of conservation interest. However, lack of genetic variation found using conventional methods (microsatellites)
has impeded genetic studies within these peripheral populations so far. In this study we assess population structure and genetic
variation among seven of these fringe populations using 105 polymorphic Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) loci.
We found a well-defined population structure without evidence for isolation by distance, implying restricted gene flow between
populations. Additionally, the populations differed in their amount of genetic variation, emphasizing the need to monitor
genetically impoverished populations for possible declines mediated by inbreeding depression and reduced adaptive potential.
Conservation implications for these unique populations are discussed in the light of our results. |
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