Contrasting and congruent patterns of genetic structuring in two Microtus vole species using museum specimens

Abstract

The common vole (Microtus arvalis) and the field vole (Microtus agrestis) are morphologically similar species but are ecological distinctive and differ in the details of their evolutionary history as revealed by mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). The aim of this study is to describe patterns of genetic variability using microsatellite markers in populations of the common and field vole in Poland using museum specimens, to assess the degree of congruence with mtDNA variation and thereby determine the factors that influence current patterns of gene flow. We genotyped 190 individuals of the common vole at 11 loci and 190 individuals of the field vole at 13 loci. Overall differentiation based on F ST was higher for the common vole than in the field vole. We detected a significant isolation by distance pattern for both species. Bayesian analysis in STRUCTURE identified Eastern and Western geographic groups in Poland based on microsatellites for both species. The location of river barriers is likely to be the main factor in these partitions. The eastern-western subdivision with microsatellites does not coincide with the distribution of mtDNA lineages for either species. Unlike previous studies in the common and field vole elsewhere in Europe, we found no evidence of reproductive isolation between the mtDNA lineages of these species at their contact zones in Poland. This study highlights the different roles of evolutionary history and landscape in shaping contemporary genetic structure in voles in Poland.

Between the Balkans and the Baltic: Phylogeography of a Common Vole Mitochondrial DNA Lineage Limited to Central Europe

“…A Mantel test of the relationship between genetic and geographic distances revealed a weak and non-significant isolation by distance pattern for the common vole in central and eastern Europe (r = 0.1725, P = 0.068). This overall pattern of genetic differentiation is consistent with that from earlier studies of the common vole [31, 34]. …”

“…We used 311 new specimens for microsatellite analysis, obtained from the Carpathian Basin, Russia and the Balkans, together with 188 specimens which were already analyzed in the previous study of Stojak et al [34]. We initially used the previous panel of 11 microsatellite loci as described by Stojak et al [34], following the same protocols.…”

“…We initially used the previous panel of 11 microsatellite loci as described by Stojak et al [34], following the same protocols. However, this was reduced for this study by the exclusion of loci AV12, Moe5 and MSM2, due to excessive missing data or risk in identification of false alleles as a result of non-specific amplification.…”

“…We assigned populations to a particular cluster according to assignment probability q ≥ 0.8. Populations with assignment probability of 0.2 < q < 0.8 were classified as ‘intermediate’ [34, 63]. We used Clumpp 1.1.2 [64] and Distruct 1.1 [65] to assemble 10 independent runs of best-fitting values of K and to generate graphical representations.…”

“…Based on these studies, it has previously been inferred that this lineage originated in the Carpathians, because of its distribution and the presence of fossils in the region over the last 25 000 years [30, 32, 33]. Earlier microsatellite analyses revealed subdivision of the Eastern mtDNA lineage into two genetic groups [34]. Given the results of the earlier studies from Poland, placed in the wider context of what is known about the common vole, the Eastern lineage is an excellent model system for an in-depth study of a small mammal population which potentially derives from a northern glacial refugium.…”