A new form of alpine salamander

Trevisan, Pierluigi; Trevisan, Aurora Pederzoli; Callegarini, Carlo

doi:10.1080/11250008109439318

Cited by 8 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…The latter live in a similar montane habitat to the former, but occupy only a small region in the Dolomite mountains located at the edge of the species distribution area, which does not appear to overlap with the S. a. atra range ( Grossenbacher 1994, personal communication). They differ from the former by a conspicuous yellow mark, but are otherwise morphologically very similar ( Trevisan et al . 1981 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mitochondrial sequence analysis of Salamandra taxa suggests old splits of major lineages and postglacial recolonizations of Central Europe from distinct source populations of Salamandra salamandra

2000

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Representatives of the genus Salamandra occur in Europe, Northern Africa and the Near East. Many local variants are known but species and subspecies status of these is still a matter of dispute. We have analysed samples from locations covering the whole expansion range of Salamandra by sequence analysis of mitochondrial D-loop regions. In addition, we have calibrated the rate of divergence of the D-loop on the basis of geologically dated splits of the closely related genus Euproctus. Phylogenetic analysis of the sequences suggests that six major monophyletic groups exist (S. salamandra, S. algira, S. infraimmaculata, S. corsica, S. atra and S. lanzai) which have split between 5 and 13 million years ago (Ma). We find that each of the Salamandra species occupies a distinct geographical area, with the exception of S. salamandra. This species occurs all over Europe from Spain to Greece, suggesting that it was the only species that has recolonized Central Europe after the last glaciation. The occurrence of specific east and west European haplotypes, as well as allozyme alleles in the S. salamandra populations suggests that this recolonization has started from at least two source populations, possibly originating in the Iberian peninsula and the Balkans. Two subpopulations of S. salamandra were found that are genetically very distinct from the other populations. One lives in northern Spain (S. s. bernardezi) and one in southern Italy (S. s. gigliolii). Surprisingly, the mitochondrial lineages of these subpopulations group closer together than the remainder S. salamandra lineages. We suggest that these populations are remnants of a large homogeneous population that had colonized Central Europe in a previous interglacial period, approximately 500 000 years ago. Animals from these populations were apparently not successful in later recolonizations. Still, they have maintained their separate genetic identity in their areas, although they are not separated by geographical barriers from very closely related neighbouring populations.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mitochondrial sequence analysis of Salamandra taxa suggests old splits of major lineages and postglacial recolonizations of Central Europe from distinct source populations of Salamandra salamandra

2000

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“…This peculiar form of alpine salamander is characterised by a yellow-patched colour and is limited to very few sites in a small plateau on the southern edge of the Alps, out of the wide range of the entirely black Salamandra atra atra (Bonato and Grossenbacher, 2000). Up to date, scanty data on the ecology and behaviour of S. a. aurorae arose from occasional observations on a few specimens only (Trevisan et al, 1981;Trevisan, 1982;Klewen, 1988;Grossenbacher, 1994), because specimens are dif cult to nd in the eld compared with other alpine salamanders (Grossenbacher, 1994).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Movements, distribution pattern and density in a population of Salamandra atra aurorae (Caudata: Salamandridae)

Bonato¹,

Fracasso²

2003

Amphib Reptilia

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Spatial behaviour of Salamandra atra aurorae Trevisan, 1982, was investigated by a capture-recapture program during a whole season of activity. Salamanders changed their behaviour with growth: while juveniles usually dispersed on the ground, adults showed a strong delity to a limited area, a few square metres wide, also from year to year. Each individual frequently changed its diurnal refuge over the course of the whole activity season, choosing among a large variety of potential shelters. The distribution pattern of the home ranges was slightly aggregated, irrespective of age and sex. Under the assumptions of a closed population and an equal catchability among individuals, a density of 475 ( §184; 95% con dence interval) salamanders per hectare was estimated in a mature and quite open wood, whereas a density of 97 ( §23; 95% con dence interval) salamanders per hectare was estimated in a thicker wood.

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Molecular analysis of Salamander family: the new alpine salamander Salamandra atra aurorae

2001

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-A portion of the mitochondrial DNA from the 3' terminal of gene 12S rRNA to the 5' extremity of 16S rRNA gene has been amplified by PCR from Salamandra atra aurorae genomic DNA in order to define the taxonomic position of S. atra aurorae within the Salamandra species. Analysis of the molecular data indicated that S. a. aurorae is quite different from S. salamandra, whereas S. a. aurorae and S. a. atra are more similar, although their mitochondrial DNA present several mutations. Our analysis suggested therefore that S. a. aurorae could really represent a new subspecies of alpine salamander. Finally, on the basis of the rate of sequence divergence, we could suggest that S. a. atra and S. a. aurorae diverged about three million years ago.

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A new form of alpine salamander

Cited by 8 publications

References 6 publications

Mitochondrial sequence analysis of Salamandra taxa suggests old splits of major lineages and postglacial recolonizations of Central Europe from distinct source populations of Salamandra salamandra

Mitochondrial sequence analysis of Salamandra taxa suggests old splits of major lineages and postglacial recolonizations of Central Europe from distinct source populations of Salamandra salamandra

Movements, distribution pattern and density in a population of Salamandra atra aurorae (Caudata: Salamandridae)

Molecular analysis of Salamander family: the new alpine salamander Salamandra atra aurorae

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