Genetic structure and demographic history of Indirana semipalmata, an endemic frog species of the Western Ghats, India

Abstract

The evolutionary potential of a species mainly depends on the level of genetic variation in their populations. Maintenance of gene variation enables populations to adapt more quickly to environmental changes. The geographical gaps also influence the distribution and evolutionary history of many mountain frogs in the world. Hence, a sound knowledge in population genetic structure of a species will help understand its population dynamics and develop conservation strategies. In the context of facing threats to the amphibian fauna of Western Ghats due to habitat loss, we used both mitochondrial and nuclear DNA markers to investigate the genetic structure of an endemic frog species of the Western Ghats (Indirana semipalmata) with restricted distribution. The present study showed the importance of mountain gaps in shaping the species’ structuring in the Western Ghats. Though a high genetic diversity was observed for the species when considering a single unit in the southern Western Ghats, the restricted gene flow on/between either side of the Shencottah gap with genetic clustering of the sampled populations may warrant a unique management plan for the species. The habitat fragmentation of the Western Ghats through anthropogenic activities may result in severe setbacks to the survival of the species in the future.

Keywords:

• Barrier
• gene flow
• genetic differentiation
• haplotype
• time scale
• Western Ghats

Acknowledgment

The authors are grateful to Dr. Manoj P and Dinesh (RGCB) for their help in gene sequencing.

Ethics approval and consent to participate

The experiments were performed on the DNA samples isolated during 2008-2010 under a sampling permit from the Kerala Forest Department vide No. WL12- 7116/08 and cleared by the Animal ethics committee of Rajiv Gandhi Center for Biotechnology vide IAEC/63/SG/07.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Author contributions

KSK contributed to data collection, data analysis, interpretation of results, and wrote the manuscript. SKC contributed to data analysis. SG aided in research design, interpretation of results, and reviewing the manuscript. All authors have read and approved the manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

RGCB funded the research from the core grant fund. KSK thanks CSIR for providing a research fellowship.