Characterisation of patterns of genetic differentiation within and among Euvitis species based on a large number of nuclear single-nucleotide polymorphisms

Abstract

Background and Aims: Assessment of genetic differentiation (GDF) is currently of great interest in studies of population genetics. The optimum estimators for GDF among Euvitis species have not yet been reported. This study aimed to characterise GDF patterns in Euvitis. Methods and Results: Within and among the 29 Euvitis species GDF was analysed using 5800 nuclear singlenucleotide polymorphisms from 30 gene fragments. Mantel tests and principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) indicated the pairwise differences (PW) and the corrected mean number of PW have the most potential for assessment of GDF among Euvitis species. All 29 Euvitis species were significantly differentiated from each other (P < 0.05). Species from Asia and America were assigned to the independent quadrants in the PCoA plots, American species were clustered into two groups and two European species were closer to Asian than to American species. Conclusions: The overall GDF pattern of all 29 Euvitis species had a limited distribution in the PCoA plots, suggesting a narrow range of genetic diversity (GDV) within these 29 species on the whole. Genetic diversity of species varied extensively among the 29 species. Correlation between GDV within and GDF among 29 Euvitis species was not significant. Significance of the Study: This study not only adds greatly to our knowledge of the genetic features of Euvitis species but also provides strategies for related studies in other living species.