Population Genetic Analysis of Serbian Red Foxes (Vulpes vulpes) by Means of Mitochondrial Control Region Sequences

Abstract

A population genetic analysis based on sequences of the mitochondrial control region in 110 red foxes from five sampling localities in northern Serbia was carried out. The analysis yielded nine different haplotypes. Neither haplotype phylogeny nor their distribution was in accordance with the geographic location of the populations. In particular, the data failed to detect an unequivocal influence of the two big rivers, the Danube and the Tisza, separating the populations studied. Population differentiation was altogether low, without any relationship to the rivers as possible migration barriers. Although the possibility of foxes crossing the rivers over bridges or by swimming, thus keeping up gene flow, cannot be ruled out, it is most probable that the control region sequences are not sensitive enough to resolve small-scale population relationships but rather show patterns determined by stochastic processes such as genetic drift or lineage sorting.

A range-wide synthesis and timeline for phylogeographic events in the red fox (Vulpes vulpes)

“…The other Serbian red foxes clustered separately into two groups that were distinct from each other (Serbia 1 and Serbia 2) within the Holarctic lineage, confirming Kirschning et al [22]. In contrast to Kirschning et al [22] findings, however, the two groups were separated by several Eurasian haplotypes and distinct from the rest of the Holarctic diversity in the median-joining network (Figure  3).…”

“…Besides the haplotype described above (POLI68), another was identical to a German haplotype from the present study (D08) and to a Swiss haplotype from a previous study (Swit12) [25,28] (Additional file 1). One Polish haplotype was closely related to a Serbian haplotype (I) that was previously described as being distinct from all other Serbian red foxes [22] (Serbia 3; see Figure  3). …”

Genetic Variability, Differentiation, and Founder Effect in Golden Jackals (Canis aureus) from Serbia as Revealed by Mitochondrial DNA and Nuclear Microsatellite Loci

“…Still, the Kenyan jackals were less diverse than the North American gray wolves and coyotes analyzed in the same study, so golden jackals might generally harbor less genetic variability than other canids. In a recent study, Kirschning et al (2007) analyzed mitochondrial control region sequences in a similarly large sample of Serbian red foxes (n = 110). This study also had a similar geographic scope, but the foxes yielded nine different haplotypes, in contrast to only one found in the jackals, which, of course, also reflects the much longer history and the larger effective population size of the fox in this region.…”

“…Control region amplification was carried out with the H-primer DLH (5 0 -CCT GAAGTAAGAACCAGATG-3 0 ) and a modified L-primer LF15926F (5 0 -ATATA AAATACTTTGGTCTTGTAAACC-3 0 ) (see Kirschning et al 2007). PCR conditions were as described in Zachos et al (2003), with a total reaction volume of 75 ll MgCl 2 buffer, 3 ll template DNA, and an annealing temperature of 55°C.…”

DNA barcoding of three species ( Canis aureus, Canis lupus and Vulpes vulpes ) of Canidae

“…DNA barcoding studies including mammal groups such as bovids, primates, bats and other small mammals have demonstrated an increase in COI sequences in recent years (Lorenz et al 2005;Hajibabaei et al 2006b;Clare et al 2007;Robins et al 2007;Borisenko et al 2008;Cai et al 2011;Alvarez-Castañeda et al 2012). Despite the fact that there have been many genetic analyses based on the mitochondrial sequences of the three canid species mentioned above (Wayne et al 1992;Vil a et al 1999;Randi et al 2000;Aggarwal et al 2003Aggarwal et al , 2007Flagstad et al 2003;Valiè re et al 2003;Sharma et al 2004;Kirschning et al 2007;Ishiguro et al 2009;Zachos et al 2009;Fain et al 2010;Gomerčić et al 2010;Rutledge et al 2010;Weckworth et al 2010;Rueness et al 2011;Weckworth et al 2011;Gaubert et al 2012;Aghbolaghi et al 2014;Bray et al 2014;Djan et al 2014;Fabbri et al 2014a,b;Galov et al 2014;Pilot et al 2014;Koepfli et al 2015;Yumnam et al 2015), DNA barcoding studies addressing these three canid species have not been varied out thus far. Specifically, the genetic diversity and species identification of the three canid species found in Turkey (C. aureus, C. lupus and V. vulpes) and the one canid species found in Iran (V. vulpes) have not been previously studied using the mitochondrial COI barcode.…”