Jailed in the mountains : Genetic diversity and structure of an endemic newt species across the Pyrenees
Valbuena Ureña, Emilio (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Biologia Animal, de Biologia Vegetal i d'Ecologia)
Oromi, Neus (Universitat de Lleida. Departament de Producció Animal)
Soler Membrives, Anna (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Biologia Animal, de Biologia Vegetal i d'Ecologia)
Carranza, Salvador (Institut de Biologia Evolutiva (UPF-CSIC) (Barcelona))
Amat Orriols, Fèlix (Museu de Granollers. Àrea de Ciències Naturals)
Camarasa, Sebastià (Universitat de Lleida. Departament de Producció Animal)
Denoël, Mathieu (University of Liège. Laboratory of Fish and Amphibian Ethology)
Guillaume, Olivier (Université de Toulouse. Station d'Ecologie Théorique et Expérimentale)
Sanuy Castells, Delfí (Universitat de Lleida. Departament de Producció Animal)
Loyau, Adeline (Université de Toulouse. EcoLab)
Schmeller, Dirk S. (Université de Toulouse. EcoLab)
Steinfartz, Sebastian (Technische Universität Braunschweig)

Date:	2018
Abstract:	The Pyrenees represent a natural laboratory for biogeographic, evolutionary and ecological research of mountain fauna as a result of the high variety of habitats and the profound effect of the glacial and interglacial periods. There is a paucity of studies providing a detailed insight into genetic processes and better knowledge on the patterns of genetic diversity and how they are maintained under high altitude conditions. This is of particular interest when considering the course of past climate conditions and glaciations in a species which is considered site tenacious, with long generation times. Here we analyzed the genetic patterns of diversity and structure of the endemic Pyrenean brook newt (Calotriton asper) along its distribution range, with special emphasis on the distinct habitat types (caves, streams, and lakes), and the altitudinal and geographical ranges, using a total set of 900 individuals from 44 different localities across the Pyrenean mountain range genotyped for 19 microsatellite loci. We found evidence for a negative longitudinal and positive altitudinal gradient of genetic diversity in C. asper populations. The fact that genetic diversity was markedly higher westwards is in accordance with other Pyrenean species. However, the impact of altitudinal gradient on the genetic diversity seems to differ from other species, and mostly from other amphibians. We found that lower altitudes can act as a barrier probably because the lowlands do not provide a suitable habitat for C. asper. Regarding the distinct habitat types, caves had significantly lower values of genetic diversity compared to streams or lakes. The mean F value was relatively high (0. 304) with maximum values as high as 0. 771, suggesting a highly structured total population. Indeed, populations were grouped into five subclusters, the eastern populations (cluster 1) remained grouped into two subclusters and the central-western Pyrenees (cluster 2) into three subclusters. The increase of isolation with geographical distance is consistent with the population structure detected. In conclusion, C. asper seems to be adapted to high altitude mountain habitats, and its genetic diversity is higher in the western Pyrenees. In terms of conservation priority, we consider more relevant the populations that represent a reservoir of genetic diversity.
Grants:	Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad CGL2015-70390-P
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Published in:	PloS one, Vol. 13, Issue 8 (August 2018) , art. e0200214, ISSN 1932-6203

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0200214
PMID: 30071027

23 p, 4.9 MB

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