Molecular Variation in Triturus vittatus vittatus (Urodela) from Breeding Sites Near the Southern Extremity of its Distribution Revealed by DNA Sequencing of Mitochondrial Cytochrome b Gene and Control Region

  • PEARLSON Oren
    MIGAL-Galilee Technology Center School of Science and Technology, Tel Hai Academic College Institute of Evolution and Department of Evolutionary and Environmental Biology, Faculty of Sciences and Science Education, University of Haifa
  • BLAUSTEIN Leon
    Institute of Evolution and Department of Evolutionary and Environmental Biology, Faculty of Sciences and Science Education, University of Haifa
  • SNIR Sagi
    Institute of Evolution and Department of Evolutionary and Environmental Biology, Faculty of Sciences and Science Education, University of Haifa
  • GOLDBERG Doron
    MIGAL-Galilee Technology Center School of Science and Technology, Tel Hai Academic College
  • DEGANI Gad
    MIGAL-Galilee Technology Center School of Science and Technology, Tel Hai Academic College

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Description

Genetic variation was examined for the endangered banded newts Triturus vittatus vittatus from a number of breeding sites in northern and central Israel near the southern limit of the species' distribution. Altitudes of the sites ranged from 15–740 m asl. Variations in nucleotide sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene (413-bp-long) and the control region (D-loop) (569-bp-long) were analyzed, of which the former varied at 13 nucleotide sites whereas the latter at 15 sites. Specimens from Berekhya pond, which is located at the lowest altitude, most distant from the other sites, and with the least annual precipitation, were found to be most divergent due to accumulation of anagenetic sequence changes. Sequence analysis showed that the newts from Israel are genetically collectively different from conspecific populations of Syria (Damascus) and Turkey (European part). DNA variation might have possibly been enhanced by differences in ecological conditions that are seemingly most prominent in habitats near the southern limit of the species' distribution.<br>

Journal

  • Current Herpetology

    Current Herpetology 29 (1), 11-22, 2010

    The Herpetological Society of Japan

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