title: Beyond the Mediterranean peninsulas: evidence of central European glacial refugia for a temperate forest mammal species, the bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus).
abstract: This study details the phylogeographic pattern of the bank vole, Clethrionomys glareolus, a European rodent species strongly associated with forest habitat. We used sequences of 1011 base pairs of the mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b gene from 207 bank voles collected in 62 localities spread throughout its distribution area. Our results reveal the presence of three Mediterranean (Spanish, Italian and Balkan) and three continental (western, eastern and 'Ural') phylogroups. The endemic Mediterranean phylogroups did not contribute to the post-glacial recolonization of much of the Palaearctic range of species. Instead, the major part of this region was apparently recolonized by bank voles that survived in glacial refugia in central Europe. Moreover, our phylogeographic analyses also reveal differentiated populations of bank voles in the Ural mountains and elsewhere, which carry the mitochondrial DNA of another related vole species, the ruddy vole (Clethrionomys rutilus). In conclusion, this study demonstrates a complex phylogeographic history for a forest species in Europe which is sufficiently adaptable that, facing climate change, survives in relict southern and northern habitats. The high level of genetic diversity characterizing vole populations from parts of central Europe also highlights the importance of such regions as a source of intraspecific genetic biodiversity.
authors.affiliation: Unité de Recherches Zoogéographiques, Université de Liège, B22, 7000 Liège, Belgium. vdeffontaine@ulg.ac.be
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Deffontaine
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Libois
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kotlík
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sommer
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nieberding
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Paradis
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Searle
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Michaux
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D003411:Arvicolinae / Q000235:genetics*; D001483:Base Sequence; D002980:Climate; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D017931:DNA Primers; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics; D003710:Demography; D004777:Environment; D005060:Europe; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005828:Genetics, Population; D005843:Geography; D006239:Haplotypes / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010163:Paleontology; D010802:Phylogeny; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial