Population genetic structure and phylogeography of the greater horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum) along Alborz and Zagros Mts. in Iran

Abstract

In this paper, we investigate the genetic structure and phylogeography of Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, using the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene (1017 bp) in Iran and adjacent regions. The total haplotype and nucleotide diversity are 0.63 ± 0.055 and 0.0021 ± 0.00017, respectively which suggest that R. ferrumequinum exhibits low genetic diversity. AMOVA analysis shows that more variation of genetic differentiation is present among populations of phylogenetic groupings than within populations. Our phylogenetic results support the monophyly of R. ferrumequinum and suggest this taxon comprises three allopatric/parapatric phylogroups that are distributed in Europe-western Turkey, eastern Turkey-northern Iran, and southern Iran. The Europe-western Turkey lineage (clade 2) split from the eastern Turkey-Iran lineage (clade 1) during the middle Pleistocene (0.8534 (ca.I)−0.6454 (ca.II) Ma). The divergence time among subclades A and B occurred during the mid‐Pleistocene (0.4849 (ca.I)−0.369 (ca.II) Ma). All phylogenetic analyses also indicate that the Iranian and eastern Turkey R. ferrumequinum diverged from Europe and western Turkey R. ferrumequinum, with the mean percentage sequence differences ranging from 0.92%−0.75% between them. We infer that long-term isolation of R. ferrumequinum in spatially distinct refugia in parts of southwestern and northeastern Iran has promoted distinct phylogeographic lineages during the Pleistocene.

Keywords:

• cytochrome b
• phylogeography
• Pleistocene
• refugia
• Iran

Ethical approval

Experimental study of the greater horseshoe bat has been conducted on the basis of a PhD research proposal. The proposal received approval for tissue sampling from in accordance with guidelines of the animal Ethics Committee of Razi University. The license (396-2-019) was issued on 15 May 2017.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

We acknowledge the Razi University authorities, Kermanshah for providing financial support for the research. Special thanks go to Dr. Shahabi, Dr. Akrami and Mr. Moradi for their assistance with laboratory works.