Molecular analysis of recently introduced populations of the Italian wall lizard (Podarcis siculus)

Abstract

In recent decades, many reptile species have been introduced outside their native ranges, either accidentally through the transportation of goods and materials (e.g., plants, construction materials), but also intentionally through the pet trade. As a paradigmatic example, the Italian wall lizard, Podarcis siculus, native to the Italian Peninsula, Sicily and the north Adriatic coast, has been introduced in several nearby islands since historical times (Corsica, Sardinia, Menorca). Besides these regions, scattered populations were later reported from the Iberian Peninsula, France, Switzerland, Turkey, Greece, the United Kingdom and North America. Here, we provide molecular evidence regarding the introduction and origin of P. siculus in six new populations outside its native range: Romania (Bucharest and Alba Iulia), inland Croatia (Zagreb and Karlovac), Italy (Lampedusa Island) and Azerbaijan (Baku). Phylogenetic analysis suggests that the Alba Iulia (Romania) population originated from a single clade (Tuscany), while the population from Azerbaijan is admixed including two distinct clades, one similar to those found in Sicily and the other present across the Tuscany clade. Samples from Bucharest also have admixed origins in Tuscany and the Adriatic clades. Less surprisingly, samples from Zagreb and Karlovac are included in the Adriatic clade while those from Lampedusa originated from Sicily. Overall, our results further demonstrate that P. siculus is able to establish outside of its native range even under different climatic conditions, not particularly from specific clades or source areas. Also, for the first time in this species, our results indicate that repeated human introductions promote lineage admixture and enhance their invasive potential.

Reptiles and their conservation in south-west Ukraine

“…We confirmed the published records for T. bogdanovi and P. muralis and did not observe any expansion of their range. Information about P. apodus has been published previously (Oskyrko et al, 2022a,b), and we did not find any new records of this species.

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“…This species requires monitoring as it can be a threat to local biodiversity (Ficetola et al, 2012). The number of introduced species is increasing in Europe (Asztalos et al, 2021; van Doorn et al, 2021; Oskyrko et al, 2022b), and requires monitoring in Ukraine.…”

Reconstructing the complex colonisation histories of lizards across Mediterranean archipelagos

“…However, the lack of genomic data on these populations results in high uncertainty for their status and complicates the identification of the biogeographical processes determining island biodiversity. Among them, Podarcis siculus is native to the Italian Peninsula, Sicily, and the Adriatic Coast, but has established invasive populations worldwide (Capinha et al, 2017; Oliverio et al, 2001; Oskyrko, Sreelatha, Hanke, et al, 2022; Oskyrko, Sreelatha, Silva‐Rocha, et al, 2022; Silva‐Rocha et al, 2012, 2014), and is recorded from ~300 Mediterranean islands (Bonardi et al, 2022). In some of these islands, the lizard is presumably native, with ancient endemic lineages (Podnar et al, 2005; Senczuk et al, 2018).…”

Smarter in the city? Lizards from urban and semi-natural habitats do not differ in a cognitive task in two syntopic species

“…As urban locations we used the cities of Zagreb (Zagreb county, “A_U1”) and Rovinj (Istria county, “A_U2”), and as semi-natural locations we used the forests in Park Zlatni Rt (Istria county, “B_S1”) and near Vrlika (Split-Dalmatia county, “B_S2”); see the ESM for more information. The colonization history of the urban populations is unknown, except for P. siculus in Zagreb, for which molecular analysis predictably confirmed its origin from the Adriatic region ( Oskyrko et al 2022 ). In both urban environments lizards can be found in the town center, surrounded by high levels of habitat modification, artificial structures, and anthropogenic disturbance.…”