Low Genetic Variability of the Tundra Vole in Lithuania
The distribution and spread of the tundra vole (<i>Alexandromys oeconomus</i>) in Lithuania have been documented over the last 70 years, but the genetic diversity of the species has not been studied. In this study, we examined <i>A. oeconomus</i> trapped in three sites in nor...
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MDPI AG
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/2/270 |
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| author | Petras Prakas Dalius Butkauskas Laima Balčiauskienė Linas Balčiauskas |
| author_facet | Petras Prakas Dalius Butkauskas Laima Balčiauskienė Linas Balčiauskas |
| author_sort | Petras Prakas |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The distribution and spread of the tundra vole (<i>Alexandromys oeconomus</i>) in Lithuania have been documented over the last 70 years, but the genetic diversity of the species has not been studied. In this study, we examined <i>A. oeconomus</i> trapped in three sites in northern and western Lithuania using mtDNA sequence analysis of the <i>cytb</i> and control region. The western and northern sites are separated by anthropogenic landscape barriers. The western site is subject to regular spring flooding. Phylogenetic analyses of the studied individuals placed them in the Central European phylogroup, suggesting that Lithuanian <i>A. oeconomus</i> originated from northeastern Poland. In Lithuania, the genetic diversity of <i>A. oeconomus</i> at both mtDNA loci was relatively low (<i>Hd</i> < 0.6, π < 0.002) compared to that found in other European samples (<i>Hd</i> = 0.833–0.958; π = 0.00402–0.01552). Individuals analyzed in Lithuania were genetically different from samples collected in Poland and Northern Europe (Φ<sub>ST</sub> > 0.15, <i>p</i> < 0.05). The genetic divergence between the western and northern samples of <i>A. oeconomus</i> in Lithuania, together with the low genetic variability among the voles studied, provides new insights into the phylogeography of the species and the influence of barriers on the colonization of the country. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T11:07:02Z |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T11:07:02Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
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| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-36fd349b5b064843aa5581a7f52a91ee2024-01-26T14:32:34ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152024-01-0114227010.3390/ani14020270Low Genetic Variability of the Tundra Vole in LithuaniaPetras Prakas0Dalius Butkauskas1Laima Balčiauskienė2Linas Balčiauskas3Nature Research Centre, Akademijos Str. 2, LT-08412 Vilnius, LithuaniaNature Research Centre, Akademijos Str. 2, LT-08412 Vilnius, LithuaniaNature Research Centre, Akademijos Str. 2, LT-08412 Vilnius, LithuaniaNature Research Centre, Akademijos Str. 2, LT-08412 Vilnius, LithuaniaThe distribution and spread of the tundra vole (<i>Alexandromys oeconomus</i>) in Lithuania have been documented over the last 70 years, but the genetic diversity of the species has not been studied. In this study, we examined <i>A. oeconomus</i> trapped in three sites in northern and western Lithuania using mtDNA sequence analysis of the <i>cytb</i> and control region. The western and northern sites are separated by anthropogenic landscape barriers. The western site is subject to regular spring flooding. Phylogenetic analyses of the studied individuals placed them in the Central European phylogroup, suggesting that Lithuanian <i>A. oeconomus</i> originated from northeastern Poland. In Lithuania, the genetic diversity of <i>A. oeconomus</i> at both mtDNA loci was relatively low (<i>Hd</i> < 0.6, π < 0.002) compared to that found in other European samples (<i>Hd</i> = 0.833–0.958; π = 0.00402–0.01552). Individuals analyzed in Lithuania were genetically different from samples collected in Poland and Northern Europe (Φ<sub>ST</sub> > 0.15, <i>p</i> < 0.05). The genetic divergence between the western and northern samples of <i>A. oeconomus</i> in Lithuania, together with the low genetic variability among the voles studied, provides new insights into the phylogeography of the species and the influence of barriers on the colonization of the country.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/2/270<i>Alexandromys oeconomus</i><i>cytb</i>control regiongenetic variabilitynatural and anthropogenic barriersphylogeography |
| spellingShingle | Petras Prakas Dalius Butkauskas Laima Balčiauskienė Linas Balčiauskas Low Genetic Variability of the Tundra Vole in Lithuania Animals <i>Alexandromys oeconomus</i> <i>cytb</i> control region genetic variability natural and anthropogenic barriers phylogeography |
| title | Low Genetic Variability of the Tundra Vole in Lithuania |
| title_full | Low Genetic Variability of the Tundra Vole in Lithuania |
| title_fullStr | Low Genetic Variability of the Tundra Vole in Lithuania |
| title_full_unstemmed | Low Genetic Variability of the Tundra Vole in Lithuania |
| title_short | Low Genetic Variability of the Tundra Vole in Lithuania |
| title_sort | low genetic variability of the tundra vole in lithuania |
| topic | <i>Alexandromys oeconomus</i> <i>cytb</i> control region genetic variability natural and anthropogenic barriers phylogeography |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/2/270 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT petrasprakas lowgeneticvariabilityofthetundravoleinlithuania AT daliusbutkauskas lowgeneticvariabilityofthetundravoleinlithuania AT laimabalciauskiene lowgeneticvariabilityofthetundravoleinlithuania AT linasbalciauskas lowgeneticvariabilityofthetundravoleinlithuania |