Phylogeography of the Altai weasel (Carnivora: Mustelidae: Mustela altaica) based on an analysis of mitochondrial control-region haplotypes

Abstract

The phylogeography of the Altai weasel (Mustela altaica) based on mitochondrial control-region sequences was investigated using samples from individuals obtained widely across the species range, including Central Asia, Tibet and southern Siberia. Thirty-four haplotypes were identified among 53 individuals from 32 localities. A maximumlikelihood phylogenetic tree for haplotypes showed two major clades, clades I and II. Clade I contained haplotypes from northern Eurasia, including the continental Far East, Altai Mountains and eastern Kazakhstan. Clade II comprised two subclades: group IIa, with haplotypes from around the Pamir Mountains, and the poorly supported group IIb, with haplotypes from the Tibetan Plateau. High haplotype diversity and low nucleotide diversity for clade I suggest that the range of M. altaica expanded over a relatively short period in northern Eurasia. High haplotype and nucleotide diversity for clade II indicate a longer-term, more stable population resulting from geographical isolation of individuals on the Tibetan Plateau by surrounding mountain ranges. Our study suggests that the ancestral population of M. altaica migrated into Tibet from the outside and has diversified in Tibet, seemingly not supporting the 'out-of-Tibet' hypothesis; however, we could not completely refute this hypothesis because an individual having a group IIb haplotype was detected in Mongolia.