Phylogeography using mitogenomes: A rare Dipodidae, Sicista betulina, in North‐western Europe

• Published in: Ecology and evolution Vol. 12; no. 4; pp. e8865 - n/a
• Main Authors: Andersen, Liselotte Wesley, Jacobsen, Magnus W., Frydenberg, Jane, Møller, Julie Dahl, Jensen, Thomas Secher
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.04.2022; John Wiley and Sons Inc; Wiley
• Subjects: Anthropogenic factors; Bayesian analysis; Biodiversity; Colonization; divergence time; Evolutionary genetics; Fossils; Genetic analysis; Genetic diversity; Genetic drift; Genomes; Geographical distribution; Glaciation; Glaciers; Glaciology; Human influences; Immigration; Mitochondria; mitogenomes; Museums; Natural history; Phylogenetics; Phylogeny; Phylogeography; Pleistocene; Population; Population genetics; Population number; population structure; Sicista betulina; Species; Taiga & tundra; Vegetation changes; Northern Europe; United Kingdom > UK; Europe; Russia; Western Europe; Sweden; Latvia; Czech Republic; Austria; Norway; Poland; Denmark; Slovakia; Germany; divergence time; genetic diversity; Sicista betulina; mitogenomes; population structure; Phylogeography
• ISSN: 2045-7758; 2045-7758
• DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8865

Repeated climatic and vegetation changes during the Pleistocene have shaped biodiversity in Northern Europe including Denmark. The Northern Birch Mouse (Sicista betulina) was one of the first small rodent species to colonize Denmark after the Late Glacial Maximum. This study analyses complete mitochondrial genomes and two nuclear genes of the Northern Birch Mouse to investigate the phylogeographical pattern in North‐western Europe and test whether the species colonized Denmark through several colonization events. The latter was prompt by (i) the present‐day distinct northern and southern Danish distribution and (ii) the subfossil record of Northern Birch Mouse, supporting early Weichselian colonization. Samples from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Russia, Latvia, Estonia, and Slovakia were included. Mitogenomes were obtained from 54 individuals, all representing unique mitogenomes supporting high genetic variation. Bayesian phylogenetic analysis identified two distinct evolutionary linages in Northern Europe diverging within the Elster glaciation period. The results of the two nuclear genomes showed lower genetic differentiation but supported the same evolutionary history. This suggests an allopatric origin of the clades followed by secondary contact. Individuals from southern Denmark were only found in one clade, while individuals from other areas, including northern Denmark, were represented in both clades. Nevertheless, we found no evidence for repeated colonization's explaining the observed fragmented distribution of the species today. The results indicated that the mitogenome pattern of the Northern Birch Mouse population in southern Denmark was either (i) due to the population being founded from northern Denmark, (ii) a result of climatic and anthropogenic effects reducing population size increasing genetic drift or (iii) caused by sampling bias. The phylogeographical pattern of the Northern Birch Mouse (Sicista betulina) in Northwestern Europe was investigated using complete mitochondrial genomes and two nuclear genes. Samples representing Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Russia, Latvia, Estonia and Slovakia were analysed. Mitogenomes were obtained from 54 individuals, all unique, supporting high genetic variation. Two distinct evolutionary linages diverging within the Elster glaciation period was found suggesting an allopatric origin and vicariance followed by secondary contact throughout the northern range. The results indicated that the mitogenome pattern of the Northern Birch Mouse population in southern Denmark was either (i) due to the population being founded from northern Denmark, (ii) a result of climatic and anthropogenic effects reducing population size increasing genetic drift or (iii) caused by sampling bias.