Taxonomic composition and ploidy level among European water frogs (Anura: Ranidae: Pelophylax) in eastern Hungary

The western Palaearctic water frogs in the genus Pelophylax comprise several distinct species and three hybridogenetic hybrid forms. In this study, we focus on the Pelophylax esculentus complex, which consists of two sexual species, Pelophylax ridibundus and Pelophylax lessonae, and their hybridogenetic hybrid, Pelophylax esculentus. Specifically, we investigated taxonomic composition and ploidy level of water frogs sampled in three different types of wetland habitats in the Hortobágy National Park (HNP), eastern Hungary. Using variation in serum albumin intron 1 (SAI‐1) and 15 microsatellite loci, we detected the presence of all members of the P. esculentus complex in the studied localities. In one locality, all three taxa occurred syntopically, while in others water frog populations consisted of P. ridibundus and P. esculentus exclusively. The genomic composition of the 63 examined hybrid specimens analysed with microsatellites showed the occurrence of diploid genotypes only. We used a population genetic approach (allelic richness, gene diversity, multilocus genotypes and multilocus disequilibrium) to infer the breeding system of water frogs at HNP. Our data indicate that at least in two populations, hybrids form gametes with clonally transmitted P. ridibundus genome and produce a new hybrid generation by mating with P. lessonae.