Postglacial recolonization in a cold climate specialist in western Europe: patterns of genetic diversity in the adder ( Vipera berus) support the central–marginal hypothesis

• Published in: Molecular Ecology
• Main Authors: Ursenbacher, Sylvain, Guillon, Michaël, Cubizolle, Hervé, Dupoué, Andréaz, Blouin‐Demers, Gabriel, Lourdais, Olivier
• Other Authors: Programme opérationnel plurirégional Loire FEDER, Etablissement Public Loire, Parc Naturel Régional du plateau de Millevaches en Limousin’, FYSSEN foundation, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Swiss National Science Foundation
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2015
• Subjects: Genetics; Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics; permafrost
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/mec.13259; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fmec.13259; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/mec.13259

Abstract Understanding the impact of postglacial recolonization on genetic diversity is essential in explaining current patterns of genetic variation. The central–marginal hypothesis ( CMH ) predicts a reduction in genetic diversity from the core of the distribution to peripheral populations, as well as reduced connectivity between peripheral populations. While the CMH has received considerable empirical support, its broad applicability is still debated and alternative hypotheses predict different spatial patterns of genetic diversity. Using microsatellite markers, we analysed the genetic diversity of the adder ( V ipera berus ) in western Europe to reconstruct postglacial recolonization. Approximate Bayesian Computation ( ABC ) analyses suggested a postglacial recolonization from two routes: a western route from the Atlantic Coast up to Belgium and a central route from the Massif Central to the Alps. This cold‐adapted species likely used two isolated glacial refugia in southern France, in permafrost‐free areas during the last glacial maximum. Adder populations further from putative glacial refugia had lower genetic diversity and reduced connectivity; therefore, our results support the predictions of the CMH . Our study also illustrates the utility of highly variable nuclear markers, such as microsatellites, and ABC to test competing recolonization hypotheses.