Mitochondrial Genetic Diversity and Historical Population Dynamics of the Bank Vole $Clethrionomys$ $glareolus$ in Northern Anatolia: Insights from $Cytb$ and $COI$ Gene Sequences

Abstract

This study presents a genetic analysis of $Clethrionomys$ $glareolus$ populations across northern Anatolia, utilizing mitochondrial $Cytb$ and $COI$ gene sequences. Phylogenetic analysis identified two distinct Turkish clades, Clade 1 and Clade 2. Neutrality tests and mismatch distribution analyses indicate a recent population expansion following a genetic bottleneck associated with Pleistocene climatic changes. Interestingly, bank voles from Uludağ in Bursa Province of northwestern Anatolia exhibited a closer phylogenetic relationship with northeastern populations than with other northwestern populations, suggesting complex historical population dynamics, possibly involving a population replacement in northern Anatolia and relic survival in Uludağ. The geographic boundaries between the clades did not align closely with main rivers, suggesting that these geographic features did not act as strong long-term barriers to gene flow among bank vole populations. Our mtDNA study lays the foundation for future research to evaluate these scenarios using phylogeographic patterns of genome-wide diversity for a comprehensive understanding of the complex evolutionary history of bank voles in Türkiye.

Keywords

• Bank vole
• mitochondrial DNA
• Turkish Pleistocene refugia
• inland water barriers
• Türkiye

Kuzey Anadolu'da Bank Vole ($Clethrionomys$ $glareolus$) Populasyonlarının Mitokondriyal Genetik Çeşitliliği ve Tarihsel Populasyon Dinamikleri: $Cytb$ ve $COI$ Gen Dizilerinden Elde Edilen Bilgiler

Abstract

Bu çalışma, Kuzey Anadolu'daki $Clethrionomys$ $glareolus$ populasyonlarının mitokondriyal $Cytb$ ve $COI$ gen dizileri kullanılarak yapılan genetik analizlerini sunmaktadır. Filogenetik analizler, iki ayrı Türkiye kladını, Klad 1 ve Klad 2'yi ayırt etmiştir. Nötralite testleri ve uyumsuzluk analizleri, Pleistosen dönemi iklim değişiklikleri ile ilişkili genetik bir darboğazın ardından yakın zamanda bir populasyon genişlemesi olduğunu ortaya koymuştur. Dikkat çekici bir şekilde, Bursa'nın Uludağ bölgesinden alınan kızıl sırtlı orman faresi örnekleri, diğer kuzeybatı populasyonları yerine kuzeydoğu populasyonları ile daha yakın filogenetik ilişkiler sergilemiştir. Bu durum, kuzey Anadolu'da potansiyel bir populasyon değişimi ve Uludağ'da bir kalıntı populasyonun hayatta kalmasını içeren karmaşık tarihsel populasyon dinamiklerine işaret etmektedir. Kladlar arasındaki coğrafi sınırlar, ana nehirlerle doğru orantılı olmayıp, bu coğrafi özelliklerin kızıl sırtlı orman faresi populasyonları arasındaki gen akışına ciddi engeller oluşturmadığını göstermektedir. Bu mitokondriyal DNA çalışması, Türkiye'deki kızıl sırtlı orman farelerinin evrimsel tarihini derinlemesine anlamak amacıyla gelecekte yapılacak araştırmalar için sağlam bir temel oluşturarak, genetik çeşitlilik gösteren filocoğrafik desenlerin kullanılmasını önermektedir.

Keywords

• Kızıl sırtlı orman faresi
• mitokondriyal DNA
• Türkiye Pleistosen sığınakları
• iç su bariyerleri
• Türkiye

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