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Discordance between mitochondrial and nuclear genetic structure in the bat Chaerephon pumilus (Chiroptera: Molossidae) from southern Africa

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the evolutionary determinants of genetic structure in a molossid bat, Chaerephon pumilus, from South Africa based on 306 nucleotides of the mitochondrial control region and six microsatellite markers. We recovered strong mitochondrial genetic structure, with 90% of the molecular variance occurring among four phylogenetically-defined groups. Mismatch distributions and Bayesian skyline analyses of mitochondrial data indicated that the sample comprised subgroups, which were at demographic equilibrium over the Late Pleistocene era. Analyses based on microsatellite data contrasted strongly with the mitochondrial data. Three admixed populations were recovered; only 3% of the nuclear variance occurred among populations, which was low and not significant. This is indicative of little nuclear genetic structure among the groups of C. pumilus, which appear to comprise a single interbreeding population. Consistent with this, global Fis was not significant. Such high levels of mitochondrial genetic structure in the absence of significant nuclear structure are consistent with female philopatry, secondary contact between diverged genetic lineages and introgression.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Life Sciences, Life Sciences Building, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Ring Road, 3630, Westville Campus, Durban, South Africa

    Theshnie Naidoo, M. Corrie Schoeman & Jennifer M. Lamb

  2. Field Museum of Natural History, Action Center, 1400 South Lake Shore Drive, 60605, Chicago, IL, USA

    Steven M. Goodman

  3. Association Vahatra, BP 3972, Antananarivo 101, Madagascar

    Steven M. Goodman

  4. South African Research Chair on Biodiversity Value & Change, University of Venda, P. Bag X5050, 0950, Thohoyandou, South Africa

    Peter J. Taylor

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  1. Theshnie Naidoo
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  3. Steven M. Goodman
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Correspondence to Theshnie Naidoo or M. Corrie Schoeman.

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Naidoo, T., Schoeman, M.C., Goodman, S.M. et al. Discordance between mitochondrial and nuclear genetic structure in the bat Chaerephon pumilus (Chiroptera: Molossidae) from southern Africa. Mamm Biol 81, 115–122 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mambio.2015.11.002

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