Contrasting patterns of genetic variation in the two sympatric geckos Gekko tawaensis and G. japonicus (Reptilia: Squamata) from western Japan, as revealed by allozyme analyses.
Allozyme variation in two congeneric sympatric geckos, Gekko tawaensis and G. japonicus, from western Japan was examined. These species show similar densities and spatial arrangements of populations in this region, and their genetic structures are thus expected to have been formed under the influences of comparable geohistorical, environmental, and demographic factors. Results of the analyses, however, revealed strikingly different genetic patterns in the two species. Populations of G. tawaensis invariably showed a remarkably lowered heterozygosity (0-0.017) compared to G. japonicus (0.089-0.124). On the other hand, the genetic heterogeneity among populations is much greater in G. tawaensis (F(ST)=0.726) than in G. japonicus (F(ST)=0.101). The Mantel test failed to detect any significant correlations between log (estimated migration rate) and log (geographic distance) in either species, or between matrices of interpopulation pairwise F(ST) for the two species. These results suggest that, in each species, formation of the current genetic structure in western Japan has been chiefly influenced by stochastic factors, rather than the geohistorical architecture of this region. The high F(ST) and low heterozygosity in G. tawaensis suggest the effects of severe local fragmentation. On the other hand, the relatively low F(ST) and high heterozygosity in G. japonicus imply extensive gene flow among populations. Absence of significant correlations between the estimated migration rate and geographic distance in G. japonicus may suggest that such gene flow is promoted by human-mediated transport of this primarily house-dwelling lizard.
Toda
M
M
Tropical Biosphere research Centre, University of Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa, Japan. gecko@zoo.zool.kyoto-u.ac.jp
Hikida
T
T
Okada
S
S
Ota
H
H
D000818:Animals; D004798:Enzymes / Q000235:genetics*; D014644:Genetic Variation; D008116:Lizards / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic
D004798:Enzymes