Genetic structure of the fire salamander Salamandra salamandra in the Polish Sudetes

Abstract

We analysed genetic variation within and differentiation between nineteen populations of the fire salamander Salamandra salamandra inhabiting the north-eastern margin of the species range in the Sudetes Mountains (south-western Poland). The results were compared with those obtained recently for the Polish part of the Carpathians. Variation of 10 nuclear microsatellite loci was analysed in 744 individuals to estimate genetic structure, gene flow, isolation and to test for a geographic gradient of genetic variation. Mitochondrial DNA control region (D-loop) of 252 specimens from all localities was used to identify the origin of populations currently inhabiting its north-eastern range. We found little genetic differentiation among populations in the Sudetes indicating substantial recent or ongoing gene flow. The exceptions were one isolated peripheral population located outside the continuous distribution range which displayed extremely reduced genetic variation probably due to a combination of long term isolation and low population size, and one population located at the eastern margin of the Polish Sudetes. Populations inhabiting the Sudetes and the Carpathians formed two separate clusters based on microsatellite loci. In accordance with available phylogeographic information, single mitochondrial haplotype (type IIb) fixed in all populations indicates their origin from a single refugium and may suggest colonization from the Balkan Peninsula. The analysis of geographic gradient in variation showed its decline in the westerly direction suggesting colonization of Poland from the east, however, alternative scenarios of postglacial colonization could not be rejected with the available data.

‘Mainland-island’ population structure of a terrestrial salamander in a forest-bocage landscape with little evidence for in situ ecological speciation

“…Substantial genetic drift has been reported for small and isolated populations across its range 31,[53][54][55][56] . We analyzed www.nature.com/scientificreports www.nature.com/scientificreports/ microsatellite genetic data in two metapopulations of the fire salamander in the northwest of Europe, with contrasting results.…”

Variability of colour pattern and genetic diversity of Salamandra salamandra (Caudata: Salamandridae) in the Czech Republic

“…Consensus neighbour joining tree (bootstrap-resampled, random seed = 237534, 10,000 replicates; reconstructed using Geneious 9.0.5, Biomatter Ltd.) of D-loop haplotypes, node numbers show consensus percent support, branches show nucleotide substitutions per site. 2,135 (Balkan and Ukraine individuals, red), SST1(Germany, Salamandra salamandra terrestris), SS1 (Czech and Slovak widespread "haplotype 1", purple), SS14 ("haplotype 2" from localities at Děčín, Czech Republic, orange), SS59 ("haplotype 3" from locality at Oderské vrchy, Czech Republic, black), SS61 ("haplotype 4" from locality at Lipník nad Bečvou, Czech Republic, yellow ) represent haplotypes of samples sequenced in this study that were determined using DnaSP 5.10 (Rozas et al 2010, Universitat de Barcelona); KY055013.1 and KY055014.1 represent haplotypes from Sudetes and Carpathians respectively in Poland determined by Konowalik et al (2016); KT3359XX.X represent clade C haplotypes throughout of the Germany determined by Steinfartz et al (2000); KX9519XX.X represent haplotypes from the Carpathians determined by Vörös et al (2017). Sslongi (S. s. longirostris) and SSgallaica (S. s. gallainca) represent haplotypes of outgroup evolutionary lineages published by Vences et al (2014).…”

Body size and life history traits of the fire salamander Salamandra salamandra from Poland

“…In sum, environmental conditions are much more favourable for fire salamanders in the Carpathians compared to the Sudetes and we suggest these differences are most likely responsible for the differences in the morphometry and mean age (which is a function of survival rate) between the two sites. Our previous studies (Najbar et al, 2015;Konowalik et al, 2016) revealed genetic differences between populations from both mountain ranges, thus the phenotypic variation may also be driven by genetic factors. It should be noted, however, that in the Sudetes the composition of gene pools might be affected by random changes due to the population declines (Ogrodowczyk et al, 2010;Konowalik et al, 2016) and may not necessarily reflect selective pressures.…”

“…Our previous studies (Najbar et al, 2015;Konowalik et al, 2016) revealed genetic differences between populations from both mountain ranges, thus the phenotypic variation may also be driven by genetic factors. It should be noted, however, that in the Sudetes the composition of gene pools might be affected by random changes due to the population declines (Ogrodowczyk et al, 2010;Konowalik et al, 2016) and may not necessarily reflect selective pressures. How much environment and genes matter might be disentangled in future studies based on a common garden design.…”

“…1). All populations (excluding population 1) were previously the subject of genetic analysis based on variation of microsatellite DNA (Najbar et al, 2015;Konowalik et al, 2016). In each sampling site, transect was established along a breeding stream and individuals were collected in the buffer zone of min.…”