Clonal Diversity and Clone Formation in the Parthenogenetic Caucasian Rock Lizard Darevskia dahli

Abstract

The all-female Caucasian rock lizard species Darevskia dahli and other parthenogenetic species of this genus reproduce normally via true parthenogenesis. Previously, the genetic diversity of this species was analyzed using allozymes, mitochondrial DNA, and DNA fingerprint markers. In the present study, variation at three microsatellite loci was studied in 111 specimens of D. dahli from five populations from Armenia, and new information regarding clonal diversity and clone formation in D. dahli was obtained that suggests a multiple hybridization origin. All individuals but one were heterozygous at the loci studied. Based on specific allele combinations, 11 genotypes were identified among the individuals studied. Individuals with the same genotypes formed distinct clonal lineages: one major clone was represented by 72 individuals, an intermediate clone was represented by 21 individuals, and nine other clones were rare and represented by one or several individuals. A new approach based on the detection and comparison of genotype-specific markers formed by combinations of parental-specific markers was developed and used to identify at least three hybridization founder events that resulted in the initial formation of one major and two rare clones. All other clones, including the intermediate and seven rare clones, probably arose through postformation microsatellite mutations of the major clone. This approach can be used to identify hybridization founder events and to study clone formation in other unisexual taxa.

The origin of multiple clones in the parthenogenetic lizard species Darevskia rostombekowi

“…For example, an analysis of 35 allozyme loci revealed five clones in D . dahli , whereas three microsatellite-containing loci detected 11 clones [ 43 ]. Identical genotype-specific markers occur all clones of D .…”

“…Darevskia rostombekowi has two times lower clonal diversity than D . dahli [ 43 ]. Although data are limited, this suggests that either D .…”

“…Three loci, Du215, Du281, and Du323 were PCR-amplified using previously described primer pairs [ 43 , 44 ]. These loci were chosen because each contained a tetranucleotide microsatellite cluster that provided sufficient resolution of the individual allelic PCR products in non-denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis to allow the direct sequencing of the individual alleles.…”

“…We apply a new approach to genotyping the related parthenogenetic species D . dahli [ 43 ] and show that D . rostombekowi —previously presumed to be a monoclonal parthenogenetic species—has several clones.…”

Molecular discrimination and phylogeographic patterns of clones of the parthenogenetic gecko Lepidodactylus lugubris in the Japanese Archipelago

“…However, such clonal polymorphisms have been still unclear in geckos because no information is available regarding the modern genetic approaches of these clones. In other parthenogenetic lizard species, clonal analyses have been done based on modern molecular tools; for example, clonal diversity in local populations of the Caucasian rock lizards Darevskia dahli and Darevskia rostombekowi using three microsatellite loci (Ryskov et al, ; Vergun et al, ), hybrid origins of clonal Darevskia armeniaca and D. dahli based on five microsatellite loci and mitochondrial haplotypes (Tarkhnishvili, Murtskhvaladze, & Anderson, ), and nonhybrid origins of clonal neotropical night lizards Lepidophyma reticulatum and Lepidophyma flavimaculatum by the phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial DNA sequences and 14 microsatellite loci (Sinclair, Pramuk, Bezy, Crandall, & Sites Jr, ).…”