Open AccessItalian Peninsula preserves an evolutionary lineage of the fat dormouse Glis glis L. (Rodentia: Gliridae)
Author(s) -
LO BRUTTO SABRINA,
SARÀ MAURIZIO,
ARCULEO MARCO
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
biological journal of the linnean society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.906
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1095-8312
pISSN - 0024-4066
DOI - 10.1111/j.1095-8312.2010.01573.x
Subject(s) - biology , clade , cytochrome b , lineage (genetic) , evolutionary biology , phylogenetic tree , sensu , zoology , genetic structure , gene flow , phylogeography , haplotype , genetics , gene , genetic variation , genus , genotype
The present study examines the population genetic structure of fifty‐nine specimens of Glis glis (Linneaus, 1766) from thirteen localities in central Europe, sequencing a 400‐bp segment of the mitochondrial cytochrome b (cyt b ) gene and a 673‐bp segment of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene. The consensus tree obtained from Bayesian analysis revealed a robust dichotomy, showing two sister groups: one clade includes samples from a wide geographical area, extending from north‐central Europe to northern Italy (major branch sensu Bilton), and the other comprises samples collected in central and southern Italy and in Sicily (Italian branch). According to the Tajima–Nei model, the two phylogroups were separated by a sequence divergence of 0.8% (cyt b ) – 2.6% (COI), showing the COI gene to be more informative than cyt b . On a smaller geographical scale, the Italian clade was further substructured, displaying geographical differentiation along the Peninsula. The gene pool in this area was patchy; whereas populations from Sicily Island demonstrated fixed cyt b and COI haplotypes, assuming processes of isolation and selection. © 2010 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2011, 102 , 11–21.