Cryptic genetic diversity, population structure, and gene flow in the Mojave rattlesnake (Crotalus scutulatus)

Publication date: Available online 15 June 2018Source: Molecular Phylogenetics and EvolutionAuthor(s): Drew R. Schield, Richard H. Adams, Daren C. Card, Andrew B. Corbin, Tereza Jezkova, Nicole R. Hales, Jesse M. Meik, Blair W. Perry, Carol L. Spencer, Lydia L. Smith, Gustavo Campillo García, Nassima M. Bouzid, Jason L. Strickland, Christopher L. Parkinson, Miguel Borja, Gamaliel Castañeda-Gaytán, Robert W. Bryson, Oscar A. Flores-Villela, Stephen P. Mackessy, Todd A. CastoeAbstractThe Mojave rattlesnake (Crotalus scutulatus) inhabits deserts and arid grasslands of the western United States and Mexico. Despite considerable interest in its highly toxic venom and the recognition of two subspecies, no molecular studies have characterized range-wide genetic diversity and population structure or tested species limits within C. scutulatus. We used mitochondrial DNA and thousands of nuclear loci from double-digest restriction site associated DNA sequencing to infer population genetic structure throughout the range of C. scutulatus, and to evaluate divergence times and gene flow between populations. We find strong support for several divergent mitochondrial and nuclear clades of C. scutulatus, including splits coincident with two major phylogeographic barriers: the Continental Divide and the elevational increase associated with the Central Mexican Plateau. We apply Bayesian clustering, phylogenetic inference, and coalescent-based species delimitation to our nuclear genetic data to...

Source: Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution - July 10, 2018 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research