posted on 2020-11-24, 10:28authored byKathleen Preißler, Eliane Küpfer, Fabian Löffler, Arlo Hinckley, Leon Blaustein, Sebastian Steinfartz
The Near Eastern fire
salamander (Salamandra
infraimmaculata) reaches its southern distribution range in Israel. Although
the population structure has
been analysed in central Israel and at the southern distribution limit, we lack
knowledge on populations in the northern area, such as along Mount Hermon. S. infraimmaculata occurs at Mt. Hermon
along an altitudinal gradient and appears to be fragmented by urban and
agricultural landscape. We studied the genetic structure of four
populations based on microsatellite loci and the mitochondrial D-loop to
determine the genetic diversity and connectivity between populations. We observed moderate gene flow at lower parts, i.e. from
Tel Dan and Nimrod Castle to Banias indicating extant but limited connectivity.
Genetic diversity and gene flow declined along the altitudinal gradient at Mt.
Hermon, reaching rock-bottom levels in the highest located population of Nimrod
Pool. The observed isolation-by-elevation gradient might induce a higher
extinction risk for the highland populations of S. infraimmaculata.