Phylogeographic Substructuring in the Southernmost Refugium of the European Common Frog Rana temporaria
2024
Authors:
Ilić, MarijaBugarski-Stanojević, Vanja
Jovanović, Bogdan
Stamenković, Gorana
Zorić, Katarina
Paunović, Momir
Crnobrnja-Isailović, Jelka
Document Type:
Article (Published version)
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract:
Simple Summary: Rana temporaria is one of the most widespread Palearctic brown frogs, with two
main genetic clades in Europe, geographic spatial pattern of which is insufficiently known. We
analyzed samples from the understudied western and central Balkans to evaluate the haplotype
diversity of widely used 16SrRNA and MT-CYTB mitochondrial gene sequences and to recognize
the contour of a possible contact zone between the main clades. The results revealed a suture
zone between theWestern and Eastern Clades in the central part of the Balkan Peninsula. Overall,
haplotype diversity in the western and central Balkans sample is high. Harboring both main genetic
clades of R. temporaria qualifies the Balkan Peninsula as another important center of species’ genetic
diversity, as well as rich in unique haplotypes.
Abstract: Rana temporaria is one of the most widespread Palearctic brown frogs. We aimed to
clarify distribution pattern of two main genetic clades in the understudied Balkan peninsula by
using 16SrRNA and MT-CYTB sequences, already widely applied in analyses of populations from
other parts of Europe, while focusing on the broad area along the Morava river (central Balkans)
as a known gap in the species distribution. Additionally, we were interested in revealing the
extent of haplotype diversity within the main genetic clades in the Balkans, particularly around
the supposed suture zone. The results revealed a suture zone between the Western and Eastern
Clades in the central part of the Balkan Peninsula. This indicated the existence of a historical
barrier between the Balkan Mountain Belt and geographically close mountains surrounding the
Vlasina Plateau (Rhodope/Serbian–Macedonian Massif). The overall observed haplotype diversity in
populations of R. temporaria from the Balkan Peninsula seems high. Harboring both main genetic
clades of R. temporaria qualifies the Balkan Peninsula as another important center of species’ genetic
diversity, as well as rich in unique haplotypes. This points out the necessity of applying conservation
measures focused on the common European frog populations and habitats in this part of the species’
distribution area.
Keywords:
Rana temporaria; phylogeography; 16SrRNA; MT-CYTB; southernmost haplotypes; haplotype diversity; Balkan Peninsula; conservationSource:
Animals, 2024, 14, 10, 1430-Funding / projects:
- Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation of the Republic of Serbia, institutional funding - 200007 (University of Belgrade, Institute for Biological Research 'Siniša Stanković') (RS-MESTD-inst-2020-200007)
- Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation of the Republic of Serbia, institutional funding - 200124 (Univeristy of Niš, Faculty of Science) (RS-MESTD-inst-2020-200124)