Low genetic diversity and significant structuring of the common hamster populations Cricetus cricetus in Poland revealed by the mtDNA control region sequence variation

摘要

The genetic diversity of 12 populations in the present range of the common hamster Cricetus cricetus (Linnaeus, 1758) in Poland was established. The 366 bp of the mtDNA control region was sequenced for 195 individuals. As few as seven haplotypes were found and their distribution was geographically structured. The large geographic areas were fixed or almost fixed for a single I haplotype and three groups of populations, that do not share any haplotypes, have been defined. Proportions of genetic diversity attributable to variation between groups of populations, between populations within groups and within populations were 93.64, 1.92 and 4.45% (SAMOVA: p < 0.001 for all estimates), respectively. Such pattern of variation is most probably the result of historical, postglacial bottlenecks and present genetic drift after the population decline in the last few decades.