Genetic variability and differentiation in the Polish common hamster ( Cricetus cricetus L.): Genetic consequences of agricultural habitat fragmentation
Abstract
The common hamster is endangered in Europe due to changes in agricultural practice, industrialization, and direct persecution. In Poland, two main areas of the current species distribution have become separated. Moreover, theoretical possibilities of the gene flow have been further complicated by the presence of two ancient phylogeographic lineages. To describe the differentiation of the populations and levels of gene flow in this complex pattern, we examined the current genetic variability using a set of 17 nuclear DNA microsatellites in 195 hamsters representing 12 sampling sites. The levels of genetic diversity are fairly high within phylogeographic lineages, but most of the variation is partitioned between populations. The common hamster populations probably function in a metapopulation structure and the connectivity of habitats is crucial for diversity preservation. Presently the possibilities of the gene flow are low or absent, which already becomes evident in lowered diversity measures of one lineage. Although the common hamster populations are genetically resilient to fluctuations in numbers, the fragmentation of agricultural habitats and isolation of suitable patches directly endangers the species.
- Publication:
-
Mammalian Biology
- Pub Date:
- January 2011
- DOI:
- 10.1016/j.mambio.2010.10.014
- Bibcode:
- 2011MamBi..76..665B
- Keywords:
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- Bottleneck;
- Conservation;
- Gene flow