Mitochondrial phylogeography of the European ground squirrel, Spermophilus citellus, yields evidence on refugia for steppic taxa in the southern BalkansMitochondrial phylogeography of the ground squirrel
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2009 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Heredity |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Field | Zoology |
| Keywords | Balkan Peninsula; cytochrome b; divergence time; glacial cycles |
| Description | The phylogeography of the European ground squirrel was investigated on the basis of a 1140-bp cyt b gene sequence. Among 31 haplotypes, three highly divergent phylogenetic lineages (Southern, Northern and Jakupica) were recognized. This result suggests the past existence of an allopatric fragmentation event caused by effective biogeographical barriers. The Southern lineage consisted of the southernmost populations from Greece, Macedonia and European Turkey, and showed the highest divergence from all other samples. Haplotypes of the Northern lineage, distributed on both sides of the Danube river, showed little geographical structure. The Jakupica lineage is a geographical isolate on a high plateau in central Macedonia. The estimated time for divergence of the Southern lineage (ca. 0.58 Mya) suggests the long-term persistence of a short-grass steppic refugium in the southern Balkans. The three lineages should be regarded as independent units for conservation management purposes. |
| Related projects: |