Genetic structure of the endangered Greater Short-horned Lizard (Phrynosoma hernandesi) in Canada: evidence from mitochondrial and nuclear genes

• Published in: Canadian journal of zoology Vol. 92; no. 10; pp. 875 - 883
• Main Authors: LEUNG, M. N.-Y, PASZKOWSKI, C. A, RUSSELL, A. P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ottawa NRC Research Press 01.10.2014; National Research Council of Canada; Canadian Science Publishing NRC Research Press
• Subjects: Alberta; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Applied ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Biological evolution; Canada; Conservation; Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife; Endangered & extinct species; Endangered species; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene expression; Genetic aspects; Genetic research; Genetics of eukaryotes. Biological and molecular evolution; horned lizard; iguane à cornes; Lacertilia; Lizards; Mitochondrial DNA; Parks, reserves, wildlife conservation. Endangered species: population survey and restocking; Phrynosoma; Phrynosoma hernandesi; Phylogenetics; phylogeography; phylogéographie; Population genetics; Population genetics, reproduction patterns; Reptiles & amphibians; Saskatchewan; Vertebrata; Zoological research; Alberta; Saskatchewan; Canada; North America; America; Alberta Canada; Saskatchewan Canada; Vertebrata; Mitochondria; Sauria; Endangered species; Gene; Geographic distribution; Biological evolution; Phylogeography; Reptilia; Phylogeny; Animal conservation; Population genetics
• ISSN: 1480-3283; 0008-4301; 1480-3283; 0008-4301
• DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2014-0079

The northern edge of the range of the Greater Short-horned Lizard (Phrynosoma hernandesi Girard, 1858) occurs in western Canada, where the species has “endangered” status and exhibits a patchy distribution. Phylogenetic inference and genetic analyses were employed to investigate the genetic structure of P. hernandesi throughout its Canadian range. One nuclear and two mitochondrial DNA genes were sequenced from 94 lizard tail tips. Overall, sequences from lizards from both Alberta and Saskatchewan displayed very little variability, and the consistent clustering of all the P. hernandesi mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences from Canada in both phylogenetic and population genetic analyses is consistent with the lizards from all sampled localities having originated from a single glacial refugium, and with being, until recently (or currently) interconnected genetically. The genetic data obtained so far furnish no information useful for interpreting the species’ present-day patchy distribution patterns or for formulating conservation strategies.