Phylogeographic patterns and conservation implications of the endangered Chinese giant salamander.

ABSTRACT: Understanding genetic diversity patterns of endangered species is an important premise for biodiversity conservation. The critically endangered salamander Andrias davidianus, endemic to central and southern mainland in China, has suffered from sharp range and population size declines over the past three decades. However, the levels and patterns of genetic diversity of A. davidianus populations in wild remain poorly understood. Herein, we explore the levels and phylogeographic patterns of genetic diversity of wild-caught A. davidianus using larvae and adult collection with the aid of sequence variation in (a) the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) fragments (n = 320 individuals; 33 localities), (b) 19 whole mtDNA genomes, and (c) nuclear recombinase activating gene 2 (

SUBMITTER: Liang ZQ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6467858 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature