|
Vol. 53, 2014
Genetic structure of the Asian Grass Frog, Fejevarya limnocharis (Amphibia: Anura:
Dicroglossidae) of Peninsular Malaysia: a preliminary report
Amirah
Hurzaid1*, Ibrahim Jaafar1, Zalina Awang1
and Siti Azizah Mohd Nor2,3
1Biological
Sciences Program, School of Distance Education, Universiti Sains
Malaysia, Minden, Penang 11800, Malaysia
2School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains
Malaysia, Minden, Penang 11800, Malaysia
3Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies, Universiti
Sains Malaysia, Minden, Penang 11800, Malaysia
Abstract
Background: Fejevarya limnocharis (Dicroglossidae) is
found widespread in Peninsular Malaysia. We analyzed the mitochondrial
DNA control region sequence data to evaluate the genetic variability
and population structure of this species, based on 106 individuals from
14 populations in the west coast (northwest and central west) and two
populations from the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia.
Results: Of 519, 13 variable sites (six parsimony
informative sites) were observed, defining 14 unique haplotypes. We
found very low levels of genetic variability, with three of the 16
populations exhibiting total absence of genetic variation. Both
phylogenetic analyses based on NJ and MP methods failed to detect any
geographic structuring between the east and west coast (northwest and
central west combined) populations.
Conclusions: Consequently, it can
be inferred that genetic structuring F.
limnocharis populations in the Peninsular Malaysia was largely
shaped by natural barriers. However, when this breaks down as between
the central west and east peninsular regions, genetic differentiation
is reduced. Further studies, with more efficient markers and larger
populations, especially from the southern regions, are required to
corroborate the findings.
Key words: Fejevarya
limnocharis; Peninsular Malaysia; mtDNA; D-loop.
*Correspondence: E-mail: amirahhurzaid@gmail.com
|
