The possible origin of the common wall lizard, Podarcis muralis (Laurenti, 1768) in Ukraine

By

Oskyrko, Oleksandra
Laakkonen, Hanna
Silva-Rocha, Iolanda
Jablonski, Daniel, 1987-
Marushchak, Oleksiy
Uller, Tobias
Carretero, Miguel A.

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2020-5-22

Original Publication

Subterranean Biology

Volume

33

Pages

87--93

Subjects

genetic diversity , human-mediated introduction , Lacertidae , natural dispersions

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/herpetozoa.33.e49683

 

Abstract

The phylogenetic relationships and possible origin of a putative non-native population of Podarcis muralis in Ukraine were assessed based on sequences of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome b. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the Ukrainian lizards belong to two distinct mitochondrial lineages (haplogroups), both occurring within the Central Balkan clade, which includes most of central and south-eastern European populations. From overall three detected Ukrainian haplotypes, one haplotype share same genetic signal with the hyplotype from the locality Bjala (Bulgaria), the other two are unique for Ukrainian population. Two of haplotypes correspond with haplogroup covering large geographic region of Bulgaria, Serbia, and Romania. These results reinforce previous findings that the species has the ability to establish new populations out of its native range. While most introductions to Germany and Britain have been deliberate, it appears likely that human transport of goods via the Danube river of goods is responsible for the range expansion into Ukraine.