Evidence of a complex phylogeographic structure in the common dormouse, Muscardinus avellanarius (Rodentia: Gliridae)

Abstract

This is the first mitochondrial phylogeography of the common dormouse, Muscardinus avellanarius (Linnaeus, 1758), a hibernating rodent strictly protected in Europe (Habitat Directive, annexIV; Bern Convention, annexIII). The 84 individuals of M.avellanarius, sampled throughout the distributional range of the species, have been sequenced at the mitochondrial DNA gene (cytochromeb, 704 base pairs). The results revealed two highly divergent lineages, with an ancient separation around 7.7Mya and a genetic divergence of 7.7%. Lineage1 occurs in Western Europe (France, Belgium, and Switzerland) and Italy, and lineage2 occurs in Central-Northern Europe (Poland, Germany, Latvia, and Lithuania), on the Balkan Peninsula, and in Turkey. Furthermore, these two lineages are subdivided into five sublineages genetically isolated with a strong geographical association. Therefore, lineage1 branches into two further sublineages (Western European and Italian), whereas lineage2 contained three sublineages (Central-Northern European, Turkish, and Balkan). We observed low genetic diversity within the sublineages, in contrast to the significant level of genetic differentiation between them. The understanding of genetic population structure is essential for identifying units to be conserved. Therefore, these results may have important implications for M.avellanarius conservation. © 2012 The Linnean Society of London.