Genetic differentiation and population dynamics of Alpine salamanders (Salamandra atra, Laurenti 1768) in Southeastern Alps and Dinarides

Abstract

The genetic structure of Alpine salamander (Salamandra atra, Laurenti 1768) populations in the Dinarides with respect to continuous populations in the Alps is still poorly understood. To compare Dinaric populations with the nearest Alpine populations, eleven populations were genotyped using seven microsatellite loci. Two major groups were detected: a more diverse Alpine group in the Steiner and Julian Alps, and a less diverse Dinaric group. The Pokljuka population was assigned to the Dinaric group despite its geographical location in the Alps, placing the divide between major groups north of the southern Alpine orographic boundary. Bottlenecks dated at the end of the last glaciation event were suggested for Alpine populations, but not for Dinaric populations. Genetic signatures of migration were detected within Dinaric and Alpine regions, but not between them. Populations from the Prenj Mountain (Bosnia-Herzegovina), where the subspecies S. atra prenjensis was described, were not genetically distinct from other Dinaric populations. These results suggest that, if the taxon remains valid, S. atra prenjensis should include the entire Dinarides as well as the Pokljuka population located in the Alps.