The British Herpetological Society

The Herpetological Journal is the Society's prestigious quarterly scientific journal. Articles are listed in Biological Abstracts, Current Awareness in Biological Sciences,Current Contents, Science Citation Index, and Zoological Record.

 ISSN 0268-0130

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pdf 05. Molecular identification of marbled newts and a justification of species status for Triturus marmoratus and T. pygmaeus

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Open Access

pp. 24-30
Authors: Themudo, G. Espregueira & Arntzen, J.W.

Abstract: The marbled newts Triturus marmoratus and T. pygmaeus are common and readily diagnosed species occurring in central Portugal, but difficult to survey in large and deep ponds. Conversely, embryos of both species are easy to locate but morphologically indistinguishable. We studied a panel of nuclear genetic loci by starch gel electrophoresis (the enzymes Pep-A, Pep-B and Pep-D) and isoelectric focusing techniques (the enzyme Ldh-2, post-embryonic stages only) that together yield a species-specific signature (Cohen's kappa = 1.00). On a locus by locus basis, the scores for correct classification range from kappa = 0.12 to kappa = 0.97. The method allows the reliable, fast and cheap identification of both species across life stages, with better behaviour and performance than mtDNA sequencing (i.e. bar-coding) and nuclear DNA microsatellite profiling. The observed distribution of T. marmoratus and T. pygmaeus over 25 aquatic breeding sites in the Caldas da Rainha area in western Portugal is parapatric, with no mixed populations and no F1 interspecific hybrids. This demonstrates that T. marmoratus and T. pygmaeus are genetically isolated, even when populations are within the #dispersal##distance##per##generation# range of one another. We consider the data adequate for supporting the species status of T. marmoratus and T. pygmaeus under the Biological Species Concept.

Keywords: ALLOZYMES, PRINCIPAL COORDINATE ANALYSIS, AMPHIBIA

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IMPORTANT NOTE - JUNE 2020

Please note that as from Volume 31 Number 1 (January 2021) on, the Herpetological Journal will be available as an online publication only - the last print edition will be Volume 30 Number 4.   

Aligning with this change, it is now no longer possible to purchase a subscription that includes a print copy of the HJ.  All members who have existing HJ print subscriptions that remain active as at end June 2020 will receive the full four 2020 print editions.  New subscribers or renewals after this time will only have option to subscribe to the online only subscription package.  Subscription pricing has been amended to reflect the content changes.

 

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