Unravelling the origin of the common wall lizards (Podarcismuralis) in south-eastern Europe using mitochondrial evidence

Oleksandra Oskyrko; Tibor Sos; Emiliya Vacheva; Sabina E Vlad; Dan Cogălniceanu; Tobias Uller; Nathalie Feiner; Miguel A Carretero

doi:10.3897/BDJ.10.e90337

Unravelling the origin of the common wall lizards (Podarcismuralis) in south-eastern Europe using mitochondrial evidence

Biodivers Data J. 2022 Sep 30:10:e90337. doi: 10.3897/BDJ.10.e90337. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Oleksandra Oskyrko^{1

2}, Tibor Sos^{3

4}, Emiliya Vacheva⁵, Sabina E Vlad^{6

7

8}, Dan Cogălniceanu^{6

8}, Tobias Uller⁹, Nathalie Feiner⁹, Miguel A Carretero^{1

10

11}

Affiliations

¹ CIBIO Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, InBIO, Universidade do Porto, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal CIBIO Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, InBIO, Universidade do Porto, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661 Vairão Portugal.
² Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Vinićná 7, 12844, Prague, Czech Republic Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Vinićná 7, 12844 Prague Czech Republic.
³ Evolutionary Ecology Group, Hungarian Department of Biology and Ecology, Babeș-Bolyai University, Clinicilor Street 5-7, 400006, Cluj Napoca, Romania Evolutionary Ecology Group, Hungarian Department of Biology and Ecology, Babeș-Bolyai University, Clinicilor Street 5-7, 400006 Cluj Napoca Romania.
⁴ "Milvus Group" Bird and Nature Protection Association, 540445, Tîrgu Mureș, Romania "Milvus Group" Bird and Nature Protection Association, 540445 Tîrgu Mureș Romania.
⁵ Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1 Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd, 1000, Sofia, Bulgaria Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1 Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd, 1000 Sofia Bulgaria.
⁶ Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, Ovidius University Constanţa, Aleea Universități 1, Campus - Corp B, 900470, Constanƫa, Romania Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, Ovidius University Constanţa, Aleea Universități 1, Campus - Corp B, 900470 Constanƫa Romania.
⁷ CEDMOG Center, Ovidius University Constanța, Tomis Avenue 145, Constanƫa, Romania CEDMOG Center, Ovidius University Constanța, Tomis Avenue 145 Constanƫa Romania.
⁸ Asociația Chelonia România, 062082, Bucharest, Romania Asociația Chelonia România, 062082 Bucharest Romania.
⁹ Department of Biology, Lund University, Sölvegatan 37, 223 62, Lund, Sweden Department of Biology, Lund University, Sölvegatan 37, 223 62 Lund Sweden.
¹⁰ Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto, R. Campo Alegre, s/n, 4169 - 007, Porto, Portugal Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto, R. Campo Alegre, s/n, 4169 - 007 Porto Portugal.
¹¹ BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661 Vairão Portugal.

Abstract

The origin of the common wall lizards (Podarcismuralis) populations in south-eastern Europe (namely in Bulgaria and Romania), representing the north-eastern range border of this species, was addressed using mitochondrial DNA. We compared cytochrome b sequences from Bulgaria and Romania with those from the contiguous range in Central Europe that are available from previous studies. We recorded five main haplogroups in Bulgaria and Romania, belonging to the Central Balkan clade. However, haplogroup III was recorded in more localities than previously found. Additionally, signs of haplotype admixture were identified in several populations along the Danube River. The presence of the Southern Alps haplotype in one population from Otopeni, Bucharest (Romania) and its close phylogenetic relationships to north Italy populations suggests human-mediated introductions of this wall lizard clade in Romania. Our results confirm that P.muralis can have non-native lineages and admixture through active human-mediated transport.

Keywords: Eastern Europe; Lacertidae; genetic diversity; introduction; phylogeography.

Oleksandra Oskyrko, Tibor Sos, Emiliya Vacheva, Sabina E. Vlad, Dan Cogălniceanu, Tobias Uller, Nathalie Feiner, Miguel A. Carretero.