First mtDNA Sequences and Body Measurements for <i>Rattus norvegicus</i> from the Mediterranean Island of Cyprus
Invasive species are the primary driver of island taxa extinctions and, among them, those belonging to the genus <i>Rattus</i> are considered as the most damaging. The presence of black rat (<i>Rattus rattus</i>) on Cyprus has long been established, while that of brown rat (&...
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MDPI AG
2020-08-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/10/8/136 |
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| author | Eleftherios Hadjisterkotis George Konstantinou Daria Sanna Monica Pirastru Paolo Mereu |
| author_facet | Eleftherios Hadjisterkotis George Konstantinou Daria Sanna Monica Pirastru Paolo Mereu |
| author_sort | Eleftherios Hadjisterkotis |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Invasive species are the primary driver of island taxa extinctions and, among them, those belonging to the genus <i>Rattus</i> are considered as the most damaging. The presence of black rat (<i>Rattus rattus</i>) on Cyprus has long been established, while that of brown rat (<i>Rattus norvegicus</i>) is dubious. This study is the first to provide molecular and morphological data to document the occurrence of <i>R. norvegicus</i> in the island of Cyprus. A total of 223 black rats and 14 brown rats were collected. Each sample was first taxonomically attributed on the basis of body measurements and cranial observations. Four of the specimens identified as <i>R. norvegicus</i> and one identified as <i>R. rattus</i> were subjected to molecular characterization in order to corroborate species identification. The analyses of the mitochondrial control region were consistent with morphological data, supporting the taxonomic identification of the samples. At least two maternal molecular lineages for <i>R. norvegicus</i> were found in Cyprus. The small number of brown rats collected in the island, as well as the large number of samples of black rats retrieved in the past years might be an indication that the distribution of <i>R. norvegicus</i> is still limited into three out of the six districts of Cyprus. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:57:18Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ba20515801b54debb19ade0f811e3b67 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-1729 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:57:18Z |
| publishDate | 2020-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Life |
| spelling | doaj.art-ba20515801b54debb19ade0f811e3b672023-11-20T09:10:37ZengMDPI AGLife2075-17292020-08-0110813610.3390/life10080136First mtDNA Sequences and Body Measurements for <i>Rattus norvegicus</i> from the Mediterranean Island of CyprusEleftherios Hadjisterkotis0George Konstantinou1Daria Sanna2Monica Pirastru3Paolo Mereu4Agricultural Research Institute, P.O. Box 22016, Nicosia 1516, CyprusSociety for the Protection of Natural Heritage and the Biodiversity of Cyprus, Keryneias 6, Geri 2200, CyprusDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Viale San Pietro 43/b, 07100 Sassari, ItalyDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Viale San Pietro 43/b, 07100 Sassari, ItalyDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Viale San Pietro 43/b, 07100 Sassari, ItalyInvasive species are the primary driver of island taxa extinctions and, among them, those belonging to the genus <i>Rattus</i> are considered as the most damaging. The presence of black rat (<i>Rattus rattus</i>) on Cyprus has long been established, while that of brown rat (<i>Rattus norvegicus</i>) is dubious. This study is the first to provide molecular and morphological data to document the occurrence of <i>R. norvegicus</i> in the island of Cyprus. A total of 223 black rats and 14 brown rats were collected. Each sample was first taxonomically attributed on the basis of body measurements and cranial observations. Four of the specimens identified as <i>R. norvegicus</i> and one identified as <i>R. rattus</i> were subjected to molecular characterization in order to corroborate species identification. The analyses of the mitochondrial control region were consistent with morphological data, supporting the taxonomic identification of the samples. At least two maternal molecular lineages for <i>R. norvegicus</i> were found in Cyprus. The small number of brown rats collected in the island, as well as the large number of samples of black rats retrieved in the past years might be an indication that the distribution of <i>R. norvegicus</i> is still limited into three out of the six districts of Cyprus.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/10/8/136mitochondrial DNAD-loopbrown ratalien speciesbiological invasion |
| spellingShingle | Eleftherios Hadjisterkotis George Konstantinou Daria Sanna Monica Pirastru Paolo Mereu First mtDNA Sequences and Body Measurements for <i>Rattus norvegicus</i> from the Mediterranean Island of Cyprus Life mitochondrial DNA D-loop brown rat alien species biological invasion |
| title | First mtDNA Sequences and Body Measurements for <i>Rattus norvegicus</i> from the Mediterranean Island of Cyprus |
| title_full | First mtDNA Sequences and Body Measurements for <i>Rattus norvegicus</i> from the Mediterranean Island of Cyprus |
| title_fullStr | First mtDNA Sequences and Body Measurements for <i>Rattus norvegicus</i> from the Mediterranean Island of Cyprus |
| title_full_unstemmed | First mtDNA Sequences and Body Measurements for <i>Rattus norvegicus</i> from the Mediterranean Island of Cyprus |
| title_short | First mtDNA Sequences and Body Measurements for <i>Rattus norvegicus</i> from the Mediterranean Island of Cyprus |
| title_sort | first mtdna sequences and body measurements for i rattus norvegicus i from the mediterranean island of cyprus |
| topic | mitochondrial DNA D-loop brown rat alien species biological invasion |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/10/8/136 |
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