Concordant genetic distinctness of the phylogroup of the Siberian chipmunk from the Korean peninsula (Tamias sibiricus barberi), reexamined with nuclear DNA c-myc gene exon 2 and mtDNA control region sequences.

摘要

We reexamined Tamias sibiricus barberi from Korea by sequencing c-myc exon 2 and the mtDNA control region. In the c-myc exon, the monogenic T. s. barberi differed from the monogenic T. s. orientalis (nucleotide distance 0.48%; 3 variable sites at 168, 306, and 552), whereas T. s. orientalis was identical to T. s. sibiricus. In the control region, T. s. barberi differed from T. s. orientalis (distance 6.84%) and T. s. sibiricus (9.35%). We considered the concordant, extensive gaps between the phylogroup of T. s. barberi and other subspecies of T. sibiricus in the c-myc gene, control region, and cytochrome b gene to be evidence of a lack of intergradation through North Korea from T. s. barberi to T. s. orientalis. Our results, showing the genetic and morphological distinctness of T. s. barberi, support that this phylogroup is a distinct species.