Hybridization and extensive mitochondrial introgression among fire salamanders in peninsular Italy.

ABSTRACT: Discordance between mitochondrial and nuclear patterns of population genetic structure is providing key insights into the eco-evolutionary dynamics between and within species, and their assessment is highly relevant to biodiversity monitoring practices based on DNA barcoding approaches. Here, we investigate the population genetic structure of the fire salamander Salamandra salamandra in peninsular Italy. Both mitochondrial and nuclear markers clearly identified two main population groups. However, nuclear and mitochondrial zones of geographic transition between groups were located 600 km from one another. Recent population declines in central Italy partially erased the genetic imprints of past hybridization dynamics. However, the overall pattern of genetic variation, together with morpholo

SUBMITTER: Bisconti R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6123427 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature