Dental Variation in Sibling Species Microtus arvalis and M. rossiaemeridionalis (Arvicolinae, Rodentia): Between-Species Comparisons and Geography of Morphotype Dental Patterns.

• Published in: Journal of Mammalian Evolution
• Main Authors: Markova, Evgenia, Malygin, Vasily, Montuire, Sophie, Nadachowski, Adam, Quéré, Jean-Pierre, Ochman, Katarzyna
• Other Authors: Institute of Plant and Animal Ecology, Ural Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences (UB RAS), Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU), Biogéosciences UMR 6282 (BGS), Université de Bourgogne (UB)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), École Pratique des Hautes Études (EPHE), Université Paris Sciences et Lettres (PSL), Institute of Systematics and Evolution of Animals, Centre de Biologie pour la Gestion des Populations (UMR CBGP), Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement (Cirad)-Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Centre international d'études supérieures en sciences agronomiques (Montpellier SupAgro)-Université de Montpellier (UM)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD France-Sud )-Institut national d’études supérieures agronomiques de Montpellier (Montpellier SupAgro), Study supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research, research grant 07-04-96124, the RAS Program “Biosphere Origin and Evolution” and federal program “Scientific and scientific-pedagogical personnel of innovative Russia” (02.740.11.0279).
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2010
• Subjects: Microtus arvalis; Microtus rossiaemeridionalis; Sibling species; Dental variation; Morphotype; Geographic variation; [SDV.BID]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Biodiversity
• Online Access: https://hal.science/hal-00476095; https://doi.org/10.1007/s10914-009-9128-8

9 pages International audience The data on dental variability in natural populations of sibling species of common voles (“arvalis” group, genus Microtus) from European and Asian parts of the species' ranges are summarized using a morphotype-based approach to analysis of dentition. Frequency distributions of the first lower (m1) and the third upper (M3) molar morphotypes are analyzed in about 65 samples of M. rossiaemeridionalis and M. arvalis represented by arvalis and obscurus karyotypic forms. Because of extreme similarity of morphotype dental patterns in the taxa studied, it is impossible to use molar morphotype frequencies for species identification. However, a morphotype-based approach to analysis of dental variability does allow analysis of inter-species comparisons from an evolutionary standpoint. Three patterns of dental complexity are established in the taxa studied: simple, basic (the most typical within the ranges of both species), and complex. In M. rossiaemeridionalis and in M. arvalis obscurus only the basic pattern of dentition occurs. In M. arvalis arvalis, both simple and basic dental patterns are found. Analysis of association of morphotype dental patterns with geographical and environmental variables reveals an increase in the number of complex molars with longitude and latitude: in M. arvalis the pattern of molar complication is more strongly related to longitude, and in M. rossiaemeridionalis—to latitude. Significant decrease in incidence of simple molars with climate continentality and increasing aridity is found in M. arvalis. The simple pattern of dentition is found in M. arvalis arvalis in Spain, along the Atlantic coast of France and on islands thereabout, in northeastern Germany and Kirov region in European Russia. Hypotheses to explain the distribution of populations with different dental patterns within the range of M. arvalis sensu stricto are discussed.