Nuclear and organelle genes based phylogeny of Dryomys (Gliridae, Rodentia, Mammalia) from Turkey

Nuclear and organelle genes based phylogeny of Dryomys

Abstract

Molecular phylogeny, phylogeography and genetic structure of the genus Dryomys Thomas, 1906 from Turkey were identified by using partial sequences of intron 7 of beta fibrinogen and 12S ribosomal RNA genes and also combined data of two genes. Within Dryomys nitedula, nuclear and mitochondrial genes coherently provided a precise separation of the Thrace lineage from the other lineages in Anatolia. Contrary to this, complex and conflicted phylogenies were recovered for Anatolian populations of this species. On the other hand, the combined data of these two genes resolved mentioned complexity and incongruity and supplied a compatible and clearer phylogeny with the results of past studies for relative position of the Anatolian lineages. Thus, presence of four different lineages within D. nitedula in the localities exemplified across Turkey was confirmed. Genetic differentiations (K2P distances) between the lineages were moderate and indicated intraspecific diversity. In addition to this, genetic distance (K2P= 5.5%) between D. nitedula and Dryomys laniger was determined to be conform to the characteristic distance suggested for the separate species of mammals. Evolutionary divergence time estimations demonstrated that the probable divergence between D. laniger and D. nitedula and among its detected lineages started in the border of Late-Miocene and Pliocene and lasted to the Calabrian stage of Pleistocene in line with the previous results obtained from fossil and molecular data.