Disentangling morphology and genetics in two voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus and M. ochrogaster) in a region of sympatry.

ABSTRACT: Species in recent, rapid radiations can be difficult to distinguish from one another due to incomplete sorting of traits, insufficient time for novel morphologies to evolve, and elevated rates of hybridization and gene flow. The vole genus Microtus (58 spp.) is one such system where all three factors are likely at play. In the central United States, the prairie vole, Microtus ochrogaster, and the eastern meadow vole, M. pennsylvanicus, occur in sympatry and can be distinguished on the basis of molar cusp patterns but are known to be exceptionally difficult to distinguish using external morphological characters. Using a combination of morphometrics, pelage color analyses, and phylogenetics, we explored which traits are most effective for species identification and wheth

SUBMITTER: Everson KM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10243968 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature