Genetic relationships of the western Mediterranean painted frogs based on allozymes and mitochondrial markers: evolutionary and taxonomic inferences (Amphibia, Anura, Discoglossidae)

• Published in: Biological journal of the Linnean Society 2006-04, Vol.87 (4), p.515-536
• Main Authors: FRANCESCA, ZANGARI, ROBERTA, CIMMARUTA, GIUSEPPE, NASCETTI
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Amphibia; Amphibia. Reptilia; ancestral polymorphism sorting; Anura; Biological and medical sciences; Biological evolution; Discoglossidae; Discoglossus; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; genetic structure; Genetics of eukaryotes. Biological and molecular evolution; molecular phylogeny; mtDNA sequencing; palaeogeography; Vertebrates: general zoology, morphology, phylogeny, systematics, cytogenetics, geographical distribution
• ISSN: 0024-4066; 1095-8312
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1095-8312.2006.00585.x

Allozymes and sequencing of mitochondrial cytochrome b (cyt b) and 12S genes were used to reconstruct the genetic structure and phylogenetic relationships of all Discoglossus taxa described so far (except the probably extinct D. nigriventer). This is the first time that a comprehensive study on the Discoglossus painted frogs has used nuclear and mitochondrial markers, evidencing a discordant pattern between the two datasets. Comparison of these discrepancies suggests a role of stochastic sorting of ancestral polymorphisms, possibly associated with male‐biased dispersal and present or past secondary contact. The genetic relationships between taxa with intermediate levels of divergence were well defined by allozyme data, but showed short internodes and low bootstrap values for mitochondrial data, suggesting a rapid radiation of their lineages during the Messinian Lago Mare phase. The results provide information about the taxonomic status of D. galganoi and D. jeanneae, considered as subspecies, and indicate D. pictus as nonmonophyletic, confirming D. scovazzi as a distinct species. © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2006, 87, 515–536.