Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Genetic structure of Brandt’s vole (Lasiopodomys brandtii) populations in Inner Mongolia, China, based on microsatellite analysis

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Conservation Genetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Brandt’s vole (Lasiopodomys brandtii) distribution is discontinuous in Inner Mongolia with some populations isolated from others. Recently, some isolated populations have suffered extinction, and the factors responsible remain elusive. Genetic drift is one of the processes affecting population genetic differentiation, and can play a substantial role in the divergence of small, isolated populations. Using seven microsatellite markers, we genotyped four geographically isolated populations of Brandt’s vole, all of which exhibit episodic fluctuations in population density. The results showed a strong genetic differentiation among the geographically distinct populations (total F ST = 0.124) and in particular, one population (Zhengxiangbaiqi) was isolated from all others (F ST values were greatest between Zhengxiangbaiqi and other populations). Furthermore, high levels of inbreeding (F IS values ranged from 0.205 to 0.290) within each distinct population suggest that inbreeding has and is likely occurring in Brandt’s vole populations. These processes can decrease average individual fitness and consequently increase the risk of extinction of the species.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bateson P (1983) Optimal outbreeding. In: Bateson P (ed) Mate choice. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 257–277

    Google Scholar 

  • Berthier K, Galan M, Foltête JC, Charbonnel N, Cosson JF (2005) Genetic structure of the cyclic fossorial water vole (Arvicola terrestris): landscape and demographic influences. Mol Ecol 14:2861–2871. doi:10.1111/j.1365-294X.2005.02636.x

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Berthier K, Charbonnel N, Galan M, Chaval Y, Cosson J-F (2006) Migration and recovery of the genetic diversity during the increasing density phase in cyclic vole populations. Mol Ecol 15:2665–2676. doi:10.1111/j.1365-294X.2006.02959.x

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Broquet T, Petit EJ (2009) Molecular estimation of dispersal for ecology and population genetics. Annu Rev Ecol Evol Syst 40:193–216. doi:10.1146/annurev.ecolsys.110308.120324

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Charlesworth D, Charlesworth B (1987) Inbreeding depression and its evolutionary consequences. Ann Rev Ecol Syst 18:237–268. doi:10.1146/annurev.es.18.110187.001321

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cheng GK, Shi DZ (2003) Study on reproductive behavior of different social hierarchy of Brandt’s vole. Acta Theriol Sin 23:220–224. doi:1000-1050.0.2003-03-006 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Chesser RK (1991a) Influence of gene flow and breeding tactics on gene diversity within populations. Genetics 129:573–583

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chesser RK (1991b) Gene diversity and female philopatry. Genetics 127:437–447

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cornuet JM, Luikart G (1996) Description and power analysis of two tests for detecting recent population bottlenecks from allele frequency data. Genetics 144:2001–2014

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dakin EE, Avise JC (2004) Microsatellite null alleles in parentage analysis. Heredity 93:504–509. doi:10.1038/sj.hdy.6800545

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Elton C (1942) Voles, mice and lemmings: problems in population dynamics. Clarendon Press, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Estoup A, Jarne P, Cornuet J-M (2002) Homoplasy and mutation model at microsatellite loci and their consequences for population genetics analysis. Mol Ecol 11:1591–1604. doi:10.1046/j.1365-294X.2002.01576.x

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Evanno G, Regnaut S, Goudet J (2005) Detecting the number of clusters of individuals using the software structure: a simulation study. Mol Ecol 14:2611–2620. doi:10.1111/j.1365-294X.2005.02553.x

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Excoffier L, Smouse PE, Quattro JM (1992) Analysis of molecular variance inferred from metric distances among DNA haplotypes—application to human mitochondrial DNA restriction data. Genetics 131:479–491

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fang J, Sun R (1991) Seasonal dynamics of the spatial patterns of Brandt’s voles. Acta Ecol Sin 11:111–116. doi:1000-0933.0.1991-02-002 (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Frankham R (1995a) Conservation genetics. Annu Rev Genet 29:305–327. doi:10.1146/annurev.ge.29.120195.001513

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Frankham R (1995b) Inbreeding depression: a threshold effect. Conserv Biol 9:792–799. doi:10.1046/j.1523-1739.1995.09040792.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frankham R (2005) Genetics and extinction. Biol Conserv 126:131–140. doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2005.05.002

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gaines MS, Diffendorfer JE, Tamarin RH, Whittam TS (1997) The effects of habitat fragmentation on the genetic structure of small mammal populations. J Hered 88:294–304

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gauffre B, Estoup A, Bretagnolle V, Cosson JF (2008) Spatial genetic structure of a small rodent in a heterogeneous landscape. Mol Ecol 17:4619–4629. doi:10.1111/j.1365-294X.2008.03950.x

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Getz LL (1978) Speculation on social structure and population cycles of Microtinae rodents. Biologist 62:56–69

    Google Scholar 

  • Getz LL, Hofmann JE, Jike L (1986) Relationship between social organization, mating system and habitats of Microtinae rodents. Acta Theriol Sin 6:273–284. doi:1000-1050.0.1986-04-006

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldstein DB, Ruiz Linares A, Cavalli-Sforza LL, Feldman MW (1995) Genetic absolute dating based on microsatellites and the origin of modern humans. PNAS 92:6723–6727

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gonzalez A, Lawton JH, Gilbert FS, Blackburn TM, EvansFreke I (1998) Metapopulation dynamics, abundance, and distribution in a microecosystem. Science 281:2045–2047. doi:10.1126/science.281.5385.2045

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Goudet J (2001) FSTAT, a program to estimate and test gene diversities and fixation indices, version 2.93. www2.unil.ch/popgen/softwares/fstat.htm. Accessed 10 Feb 2009

  • Hartl DL, Clark AG (1997) Principles of population genetics. Sinauer Ass, Sunderland

    Google Scholar 

  • Heckel G, Burri R, Fink S, Desmet J-F, Excoffier L (2005) Genetic structure and colonization processes in European populations of the common vole, Microtus arvalis. Evolution 59:2231–2242

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hedrick PW, Kalinowski ST (2000) Inbreeding depression in conservation biology. Annu Rev Ecol Syst 31:139–162. doi:10.1146/annurev.ecolsys.31.1.139

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jarne P, Lagoda PJL (1996) Microsatellites, from molecules to populations and back. Trends Ecol Evol 11:424–429. doi:10.1016/0169-5347(96)10049-5

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Langella O (2002) POPULATIONS, a free population genetics software. http://bioinformatics.org/~tryphon/populations/

  • Li B (1997) The rangeland degradation in North China and its preventive strategy. Sci Agric Sin 30:1–9. doi:0578-1752.0.1997-06-000 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Li QF, Hu CY, Wang MJ (2001) Analysis on the causes of eco-environmental deterioration in Hun shandake Sandy Land region and countermeasures. J Arid Land Resour Environ 15:9–16. doi:1003-7578.0.2001-03-001 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Li JH, Pan HW, Wang G (2004) Degradation causes of typical steppe in Inner Mongolia. Pratacult Sci 21:49–51. doi:1001-0629.0.2004-05-012 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Li SY, Li XB, Wang DD (2007) Prediction of grassland degradation in Xilinhaote of Inner Mongolia based on Markov process model. Chinese J Ecol 26:78–82. doi:STXZ.0.2007-01-016 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu ZL, Sun RY (1993) Study on population reproduction of Brandt’s voles (Microtus Brandti). Acta Theriol Sin 13:114–122. doi:1000-1050.0.1993-02-005 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Luikart G, Allendorf FW, Cornuet JM, Sherwin WB (1998) Distortion of allele frequency distributions provides a test for recent population bottlenecks. J Hered 89:238–247

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Luo TS, Hao SS, Liang ZA, Niu DF, Zao HC (1975) Some biological observations of the Brandt’s vole (Microtus brandti Radde) control in Hulun-Beier grassland. Acta Zool Sin 21:51–61. doi:0001-7302.0.1975-01-007 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Maruyama T, Fuerst PA (1985) Population bottlenecks and nonequilibrium models in population genetics. II. Number of alleles in a small population that was formed by a recent bottleneck. Genetics 111:675–689

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McDevitt AD, Rambau RV, O’Brien J, Mcdevitt CD, Hayden TJ, Searle JB (2009) Genetic variation in Irish pygmy shrews Sorex minutus (Soricomorpha: Soricidae): implications for colonization history. Biol J Linn Soc 97:918–927

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nei M, Maruyama T, Chakraborty R (1975) The bottleneck effect and genetic variability in populations. Evolution 29:1–10

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peakall R, Smouse PE (2006) GenAlEx 6: genetic analysis in Excel. population genetic software for teaching and research. Mol Ecol Notes 6:288–295. doi:10.1111/j.1471-8286.2005.01155.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Petit RJ, El Mousadik A, Pons O (1998) Identifying populations for conservation on the basis of genetic markers. Conserv Biol 12:844–855. doi:10.1111/j.1523-1739.1998.96489.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Primmer CR, Moller AP, Ellegren H (1995) Resolving genetic relationships with microsatellite markers: a parentage testing system for the swallow Hirundo rustica. Mol Ecol 4:493–498. doi:10.1111/j.1365-294X.1995.tb00243.x

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pritchard JK, Stephens M, Donnelly PJ (2000) Inference of population structure using multilocus genotype data. Genetics 155:945–959

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Qin J, Guo YW, Bao X, Yang JH, Shi DZ (2008) Control efficacy and cost analysis of different bait against Lasiopodomys brandtii. Chin J Vector Bio Control 20:192–194. doi:CNKI:SUN:ZMSK.0.2008-03-009 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ralls K, Ballou JD, Templeton A (1988) Estimates of lethal equivalents and the cost of inbreeding in mammals. Conserv Biol 2:185–193. doi:10.1111/j.1523-1739.1988.tb00169.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Redeker S, Andersen LW, Pertoldi C, Madsen AB, Jensen TS, Jørgensen JM (2005) Genetic structure, habitat fragmentation and bottlenecks in Danish bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus). Mamm Biol 71:144–158. doi:10.1016/j.mambio.2005.12.003

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sambrook J, Fritsch EF, Maniatis T (1989) Molecular cloning: a laboratory manual, 2nd edn. Cold Springs Harbour Laboratory Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Shenbrot GI, Krasnov BR (2005) An atlas of the geographic distribution of the Arvicoline rodents of the world (Rodentia, Muridae: Arvicolinae). Pensoft press, Moscow

    Google Scholar 

  • Shi DZ (1988) A preliminary study on Brandt’s voles’ distribution region in China and its relation to vegetation and water-temperature condition. Acta Theriol Sin 8:299–306. doi:1000-1050.0.1988-04-008 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Shi DZ, Wan XR, Davis SA, Pech RP, Zhang ZB (2002) Simulation of lethal control and fertility control in a demographic model for Brandt’s vole Microtus brandti. J Appl Ecol 39:337–348. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2664.2002.00716.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shi DZ, Guo YW, Su HT (2009) A progress of rodent and its control in the agriculture and animal husbandry. Chin J Vector Bio Control 20:499–501. doi:CNKI:SUN:ZMSK.0.2009-06-002 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Shrwerm MD, Li J, Chakraborty R, Boerwinkle E (1993) VNTR allele frequency distributions under the stepwise mutation model: a computer simulation approach. Genetics 134:983–993

    Google Scholar 

  • Stewart WA, Dallas JF, Piertney SB, Marshall F, Lambin X, Telfer S (1999) Metapopulation genetic structure in the water vole, Arvicola terrestris, in NE Scotland. Biol J Linn Soc 68:159–171. doi:10.1006/bijl.1999.0336

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Oosterhout C, Hutchinson WF, Wills DPM, Shipley P (2004) MICRO-CHECKER: software for identifying and correcting genotyping errors in microsatellite data. Mol Ecol Notes 4:535–538. doi:10.1111/j.1471-8286.2004.00684.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Treuren R, Bijlsma R, Van Delden W, Ouborg NJ (1991) The significance of genetic erosion in the process of extinction I. Genetic differentiation in Salvia pratensis and Scabiosa columbaria in relation to population size. Heredity 66:181–189. doi:10.1038/hdy.1991.23

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Treuren R, Bijlsma R, Ouborg NJ, Van Delden W (1993) The significance of genetic erosion in the process of extinction. IV. Inbreeding depression and heterosis effects due to selfing and outcrossing in Salvia pratensis and Scabiosa. Evolution 47:1669–1680

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wahlund S (1928) Composition of populations from the perspective of the theory of heredity. Hereditas 11:65–105

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walker MF, Sunnucks P, Taylor AC (2008) Evidence for habitat fragmentation altering within-population processes in wombats. Mol Ecol 17:1674–1684. doi:10.1111/j.1365-294X.2008.03701.x

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wan XR, Zhong WQ, Wang MJ, Wang GH (1999) The cohort life table of the Brandt’s vole (Microtus brandtii) in Inner Mongolian grasslands, China. In: Zhang Z, Hinds L, Singleton G, Wang Z (eds) Rodent biology and management. Australian Center for International Agricultural Research, Canberra, pp 23–24

    Google Scholar 

  • Wan XR, Wang MJ, Wang GH, Liu W, Zhong WQ (2002) The reproductive parameters in the marked populations of Brandt’s voles. Acta Theriol Sin 22:116–122. doi:1000-1050.0.2002-02-004 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wan XR, Zhang XJ, Liu W, Wang GH, Wang MJ, Zhong WQ (2007) Social hierarchy and its seasonal changes of marked Lasiopodomys brandtii population. Chin J Ecol 26:359–362. doi:1000-4890.0.2007-03-011 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang WJ, Ren BP (2007) OnqinDaga desert and Korqin desert since the North Wei Dynasty. J Taiyuan Normal Univ (Natl Sci Ed) 6:107–110. doi:1672-2027.0.2007-01-032 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang D, Shi DZ (2007) Isolation and characterization of polymorphic microsatellite loci from Brandt’s voles (Lasiopodomys brandtii). Mol Ecol Notes 7:671–673. doi:10.1111/j.1471-8286.2006.01673.x

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang MJ, Han GD, Zhao ML, Li HX (2007) Quantitative analysis of degeneration stage of meadow steppe in Hulunbeier, Inner Mongolia. Acta Bot Boreali-Occidentalia Sin 27:797–804. doi:1000-4025.0.2007-04-029 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wright S (1978) Evolution and the genetics of populations, Vol. 4: variability within and among natural populations. University of Chicago Press, Chicago

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu XD (1988) A study on the segregation, the population composition and the ecological longevity of Brandt’s voles. J Inner Mongolia College Agric Anim Husb 9(1):98–105. doi:1001-8727.0.1988-01-012 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Xie XM, Sun RY, Fang JM (1994) The mating system and reproduction of Brandt’s vole (Microtus brandti). Acta Zool Sin 40:262–265. doi:0001-7302.0.1994-03-005 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Yanes M, Velasco JM, Suarez F (1995) Permeability of roads and railways to vertebrates—the importance of culverts. Biol Conserv 71:217–222. doi:10.1016/0006-3207(94)00028-O

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yeh FC, Boyle TJB (1997) Population genetic analysis of co-dominant and dominant markers and quantitative traits. Belg J Bot 129:157. Popgene version1.31. http://www.ualberta.ca/~fyeh/download.htm

  • Yin F, Fang J (1998) Mate choice in Brandt’s voles (Microtus brandti). Acta Zool Sin 44:162–169. doi:0001-7302.0.1998-02-007 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Yu XD, Sun RY, Fang JM (2004) Effect of kinship on social behaviors in Brandt’s voles (Microtus brandti). J Ethol 22:17–22. doi:10.1007/s10164-003-0097-8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang JJ, Zhang ZB (2003) Influence of operational sex ratio and density on the copulatory behavior and mating system of Brandt’s vole (Microtus brandti). Acta Theriol 48:335–346

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang J, Zhong WQ (1981) On the colonial structure of Brandt’s vole in burrow units. Acta Theriol Sin 1:51–56. doi:1000-1050.0.1981-01-008 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang YX, Da LT, Bate’er LiuQS, Wang XH (1995) 20-years investigation of rodent population dynamic in Zhengxiangbaiqi, Inner Mongolia. Chin J Vector Bio Control 6:310–312. doi:10034692.0.1995-04-029 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang JJ, Shi DZ, Sun LX (2006) The effect of male competition on female choice in Brandt’s vole, Lasiopodomys brandtii. Folia Zool 55:123–129

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhao ML, Qiao F, Gao ST, Shi YS, Zhaona ST, Tong ZF, Hao J, Du SY (1994) Test on rodenticides against Brandt’s vole. Grassland Chin 4:51–53. doi:CNKI:SUN:ZGCD.0.1994-04-012 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhong WQ, Zhou QQ, Sun CL (1985) The basic characteristics of the rodent pests on the pasture in Inner Mongolia and the ecological strategies of controlling. Acta Theriol Sin 5:241–249. doi:1000-1050.0.1985-04-000 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhong WQ, Zhou QQ, Sun CL, Wang GH, Zhou PY, Liu WZ, Jia YP (1991) The design for the ecological management of Brandt’s vole pest and its application. Acta Theriol Sin 11:204–212. doi:1000-1050.0.1991-03-007 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We thank the staff from Xilinguole district, Dongwuzhumuxinqi, Abagaqi and Zhengxiangbaiqi Grassland Work Stations, Inner Mongolia, China, for providing excellent facilities during our field work. We are also grateful for the very useful comments provided by Dr. Roger Pech, Dr. Andrea Byrom, Dr. Liang Yue and the anonymous reviewers. This work was supported by grants from the National Basic Research Program of China (No. 2007CB109100), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 30800727) and the National Key Technology R&D Program (No. 2006BAD16B04-1).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, 2 Yuanmingyuan West Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100193, China

    Deng Wang & Dazhao Shi

  2. National Agro-tech Extensions and Service Center, 20 Maizidian Avenue, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100026, China

    Yongwang Guo

Authors
  1. Deng Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yongwang Guo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Dazhao Shi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dazhao Shi.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wang, D., Guo, Y. & Shi, D. Genetic structure of Brandt’s vole (Lasiopodomys brandtii) populations in Inner Mongolia, China, based on microsatellite analysis. Conserv Genet 12, 659–667 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-010-0172-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-010-0172-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation