Confirmation of European snow vole Chionomys nivalis (Mammalia: Rodentia: Cricetidae) occurrence in Portugal

Abstract

The European snow vole (Chionomys nivalis) is a microtine rodent with a highly fragmented distribution range, mostly associated with the main mountain systems from southern Europe to Turkmenistan. In this paper we confirm the occurrence of the snow vole in Portugal, based on morphological characteristics, biometrics and genetic analysis of two individuals captured in the Montesinho Mountain range (northeastern Portugal). Both mitochondrial and nuclear genetic markers were used to confirm the species identity. The analysis of cytochrome b supports previous conclusions on the phylogeographic structure of the species, revealing the existence of several distinct lineages. Moreover, it shows that the Portuguese specimens are closely related to the other Iberian populations. This finding is of great interest as it adds new information regarding the spatial distribution of the snow vole, by redefining the southwestern limits of the species’ range, and it highlights the need for accurate assessment of regional small mammal population trends and conservation status.

Keywords:

• Rodent
• Chionomys nivalis
• cytochrome-b
• IRBP
• Iberian Peninsula

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by funding from several ecological monitoring projects of the Laboratory of Applied Ecology (University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, UTAD), including the grants BGCT/LEA/402/UTAD/2014 (Hélia Marisa Vale-Gonçalves) and BGCT/LEA/403/UTAD/2014 (Paulo Barros), and by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) through the project PEst-OE/AGR/UI4033/2014. Joana Paupério has a postdoctoral grant funded by the project “Genomics and Evolutionary Biology” co-financed by the North Portugal Regional Operational Programme 2007/2013 (ON.2 – O Novo Norte), under the National Strategic Reference Framework, through the European Regional Development Fund. We are grateful to C. M. Ferreira and F. M. S. Martins for collaboration in the genetic analysis, and to P. C. Alves for early discussions of the manuscript. We also thank J. S. Herman for reviewing the English, and the reviewers for valuable comments.

Ethical standards

Animals were trapped and ethically handled according to Portuguese law and under permit no. 587/2014/CAPT.