[Genetic structure of populations of Schrenck newt (Salamandrella schrenckii) based on mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b variability data].

ABSTRACT

Data on variability of nucleotide sequences of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) cytochrome b gene of Schrenck newt, Salamandrella schrenckii (Strauch, 1870), from populations of Primorie and Khabarovsk regions have been received. By means of phylogenetic analysis, two clusters of haplotypes--'southern' cluster 1 and 'northern' cluster 2, with divegence level between them estimated as 3%-- were revealed. Results of analysis of mtDNA and cytochrome b amino acid variation allow us to assume that development of a modern area of Schrenck newt occurred from the south on the north of Primorie region. It was found that 'northern'cluster in contrast to the 'southern' one demonstrates all signs of demographic expansion (i.e., unimodal type of pairwise nucleotide differences, results of tests of selective neutrality of mtDNA variation and good correspondence of genetic parameters to expectations following from the models of demographic expansions).