title: Genetic structure and diversity in an isolated population of an endemic mole salamander (Ambystoma rivulare Taylor, 1940) of central Mexico.
abstract: Human activities are affecting the distribution of species worldwide by causing fragmentation and isolation of populations. Isolation and fragmentation lead to populations with lower genetic variability and an increased chance of inbreeding and genetic drift, which results in a loss of biological fitness over time. Studies of the genetic structure of small and isolated populations are critically important for management and conservation decisions. Ambystoma rivulare is a micro-endemic Mexican mole salamander from central Mexico. It is found in the most ecologically disturbed region in Mexico, the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt. The goal of this study of the population genetics of the micro-endemic mole salamander was to provide information to be used as a basis for future research and conservation planning of this species and other species of the Ambystoma genus in Mexico. The structural analysis found two subpopulations, one for each river sampled, with no signs of admixture and very high levels of genetic differentiation. Medium to high levels of heterozygosity and few alleles and genotypes were observed. Evidence of an ancestral genetic bottleneck, low values of effective population size, small inbreeding coefficients, and low gene flow were also found.
authors: Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Biológicas Aplicadas, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Instituto literario # 100, Colonia Centro, CP 50000, Toluca, Estado de México, Mexico.
authors: Rosa-Laura
authors: RL
authors: Heredia-Bobadilla
authors: Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Biológicas Aplicadas, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Instituto literario # 100, Colonia Centro, CP 50000, Toluca, Estado de México, Mexico. tavomonroyvilchis@gmail.com.
authors: Octavio
authors: O
authors: Monroy-Vilchis
authors: Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Biológicas Aplicadas, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Instituto literario # 100, Colonia Centro, CP 50000, Toluca, Estado de México, Mexico.
authors: Martha M
authors: MM
authors: Zarco-González
authors: Departamento de Producción Agrícola y Animal, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana Xochimilco, Calz. Del Hueso 1100, Col. Villa Quietud, 04960, Mexico city, Mexico.
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Martínez-Gómez
authors: Departamento de Producción Agrícola y Animal, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana Xochimilco, Calz. Del Hueso 1100, Col. Villa Quietud, 04960, Mexico city, Mexico.
authors: Germán David
authors: GD
authors: Mendoza-Martínez
authors: Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Biológicas Aplicadas, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Instituto literario # 100, Colonia Centro, CP 50000, Toluca, Estado de México, Mexico.
authors: Armando
authors: A
authors: Sunny
mesh_terms: D000559:Ambystomatidae / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D051456:Gene Flow; D014644:Genetic Variation; D008800:Mexico; D010802:Phylogeny; D011156:Population Density
keywords: Conservation; Conservation genetics; Micro-endemic species; Microsatellites; Mole salamander