Phylogeography of the Vipera ursinii complex (Viperidae): mitochondrial markers reveal an east–west disjunction in the Palaearctic region

Abstract

Aim The aim of this study was to elucidate the phylogeographical pattern of taxa composing the Vipera ursinii complex, for which the taxonomic status and the dating of splitting events have been the subject of much debate. The objectives were to delimit potential refugia and to date splitting events in order to suggest a scenario that explains the diversification of this species complex. Location Western Europe to Central Asia. Methods Sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome b and NADH dehydrogenase subunit 4 (ND4) genes were analysed for 125 individuals from 46 locations throughout the distribution range of the complex. The phylogeographical structure was investigated using Bayesian and maximum likelihood methods. Molecular dating was performed using three calibration points to estimate the timing of diversification. Results Eighty‐nine haplotypes were observed from the concatenation of the two genes. Phylogenetic inferences supported two main groups, referred to in this study as the ‘ursinii clade’ and the ‘renardi clade’, within which several subclades were identified. Samples from Greece (Vipera ursinii graeca) represented the first split within the V. ursinii complex. In addition, three main periods of diversification were revealed, mainly during the Pleistocene (2.4–2.0 Ma, 1.4 Ma and 1.0–0.6 Ma). Main conclusions The present distribution of the V. ursinii complex seems to have been shaped by Quaternary climatic fluctuations, and the Balkan, Caucasus and Carpathian regions are identified in this study as probable refugia. Our results support a south–north pattern of colonization, in contrast to the north–south colonization previously proposed for this complex. The biogeographical history of the V. ursinii complex corroborates other biogeographical studies that have revealed an east–west disjunction (situated near the Black Sea) within a species complex distributed throughout the Palaearctic region.

A new vertebrate for Europe: the discovery of a range-restricted relict viper in the western Italian Alps

“…The presence of a new distinct lineage, more related to the Caucasian vipers, strongly suggests an additional, more recent, colonization of western Europe (from the V. kazankovi complex or during the split between the V. kaznakovi complex and V. ursinii complex) than the one involving the V. berus group, and possibly one that was concurrent with that of V. ursinii (Early Pliocene; Ferchaud et al. ).…”

Phylogeographic patterns of steppe species in Eastern Central Europe: a review and the implications for conservation

“…Lastly, these evolutionary units could also have taxonomic value (e.g. identification of taxonomic structure like in Sicista subtilis, Cserkész et al 2015a, b; the ''near to extinction'' taxa of the Nannospalax leucodon superspecies, Németh et al 2013, species within the Vipera ursinii complex, Ferchaud et al 2012;Gvozdik et al 2012;Zinenko et al 2015, or presumable subspecies such as in Cheilotoma musciformis and Coraebus elatus; Kajtoch et al 2013Kajtoch et al , 2014a.…”

Non-concordant phylogeographical patterns of three widely codistributed endemic Western Balkans lacertid lizards (Reptilia, Lacertidae) shaped by specific habitat requirements and different responses to Pleistocene climatic oscillations

“…Recent phylogeographical studies of different animal taxa (e.g. Kry stufek et al 2007;Previ si c et al 2009;Ferchaud et al 2012) revealed that the 'refugia within refugia' concept (G omez and Lunt 2007), originally described for the Iberian Peninsula, is also valid for the Balkans. However, although the Balkan region is richer in species and palaeoendemics in comparison with the Iberian and Apennine peninsulas, the number of phylogeographical studies (particularly comparative ones) of Balkanic fauna is still scarce (Hewitt 2011).…”