Diversity, Phylogenetic Relationships and Distribution of Marsh Frogs (the Pelophylax ridibundus complex) from Kazakhstan and Northwest China

Abstract

In order to study the diversity, phylogenetic relationships and distribution of marsh frogs of the Pelophylax ridibundus complex in Kazakhstan and northwest China, we conducted phylogeographic analyses of 125 samples from 53 localities using the mtDNA ND2 and COI genes and the SAI nuclear gene sequences. Phylogenetic inference of mtDNA revealed three main lineages—sister lineages Balkhash and Syrdarya (as the Central Asian P. sp. novum), and the Anatolian P. cf. bedriagae, while from nDNA data, we additionally detected the western form, P. ridibundus. According to mtDNA data, the mean genetic distances between P. sp. novum and two other forms of marsh frogs was more than 5%. Genetic homogeneity within populations of the Syrdarya lineage and P. cf. bedriagae is characterized by low nucleotide diversity and high haplotype diversity. Demographic analyses of the lineages showed past population expansions of the Balkhash and the Syrdarya forms. Divergence from the most recent ancestor had occurred in the Early Pleistocene period (2.46 Mya) for the Balkhash and the Syrdarya lineages, and 1.27 Mya for the P. cf. bedriagae. Our findings provide a first investigation of the lineage diversification and population dynamics of the Central Asian marsh frogs and will be useful for further taxonomic implications and conservational actions.

Piecing the barcoding puzzle of Palearctic water frogs (Pelophylax) sheds light on amphibian biogeography and global invasions

“…ridibundus X (Figure 5), was found to be identical or highly similar to new sequences from the Balkans and Central Asia (Ualiyeva et al, 2022). The inclusion of additional genes in the nuclear phylogeny further suggests lesser divergence between cf.…”

“…As a consequence, a proper overview of the evolution, diversity and distribution of the genus remains genuinely lacking. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) has been preferentially sequenced to identify and map phylogeographic lineages, but mtDNA sequences are scattered across more than a hundred publications that vary in taxonomic scales, geographic scopes, sets of genes analyzed, and further differ in the way these lineages are delimited, labelled and taxonomically treated (e.g., Akın et al., 2010; Bellati et al., 2023; Bülbül et al., 2011; Dufresnes, Di Santo, et al., 2017; Hoffmann et al., 2015; Komaki et al., 2015; Liu et al., 2010; Lymberakis et al., 2007; Min et al., 2008; Nicolas et al., 2015; Papežík et al., 2023; Plötner et al., 2008; Svinin et al., 2021; Toli et al., 2023; Ualiyeva et al., 2022; Wang et al., 2017). Moreover, mitochondrial barcoding may not be reliable due to hybridization, that cause mitochondrial transfer between sympatric and parapatric species (e.g., Doniol‐Valcroze et al., 2021; Komaki et al., 2015; Liu et al., 2010), including the parental species of hybridogenetic hybrids (Plötner et al., 2008).…”

Understanding the Distribution, Behavioural Ecology, and Conservation Status of Asian Pelophylax

“…Distribution Pelophylax ridibundus, or the Marsh Frog, was described from Guryev in Kazakhstan (Pallas, 1771; (Figure 11). This species occurs over a vast area in Eurasia, from the United Kingdom in the west to the Kamchatka peninsula in the east, and from the outskirts of St. Petersburg (Russia) in the north to Saudi Arabia in the south [22,[95][96][97][98][99][100][101][102][103][104][105][106][107][108][109][110][111]. In mainland Europe, P. ridibundus was repeatedly introduced to Italy [112,113], France [114], Switzerland [115], Belgium [116,117], and Russia [22,118] (Figure 11).…”

“…Distribution This distinct Pelophylax lineage was identified based on populations in northeastern and eastern regions of Uzbekistan, and it is named after the Syr Darya drainage basin that it inhabits [148] (Figure 14). This candidate species is also found in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, western Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan [103,148,[151][152][153][154]. Hybrid individuals resulting from P. terentievi and the Syr Darya lineage have been identified from central Uzbekistan [148].…”

“…Hybrid individuals resulting from P. terentievi and the Syr Darya lineage have been identified from central Uzbekistan [148]. In addition, there are two clades within the Syr Darya lineage, based on mitochondrial DNA, one restricted to the Syr Darya drainage basin and one to the Balkhash Basin [103]. it inhabits [148] (Figure 14).…”