Inferring phylogenetic relationships in the common vole (Microtus arvalis) based on mitochondrial and nuclear sequence diversities

Authors : Derya CETİNTURK, Nuri YİGİT, Ercument COLAK, Georgi MARKOV, Dusko CİROVİC, Mihaly MARTON

Pages : 117-130

View : 22 | Download : 6

Publication Date : 0000-00-00

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :The common vole Microtus arvalis insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Pallas, 1778); is the most widespread Microtus species. It has two forms - the European arvalis form insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(2n: 46, NF: 84); and the Asian obscurus form insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(2n: 46, NF: 72);. The present study aimed to clarify the taxonomic status of M. arvalis populations distributed in Eastern Turkey, Europe and Asia by analysing two mitochondrial insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(CYTB and COX1); and one nuclear insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(IRBP); markers. Phylogenetic dendrograms insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(median-joining networks and Bayesian trees); constructed using the mitochondrial markers clearly separated the Anatolian population from the European and Asian populations. Contrarily, any explicit differentiation was not shown in IRBP analyses. Mean and net genetic distance values insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(d); were found to be notably low for three markers. Species delimitation test insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery Method); supported these results. Our results indicate that the arvalis and obscurus forms are not sufficiently differentiated to be considered different species, while the Anatolian population has only recently split from the Asian population. Together, these findings demonstrate that the speciation process is ongoing.
Keywords : Common vole, Microtus arvalis, Anatolia, CYTB, COX1, IRBP