Identification of Widespread Hybridization between Two Terrestrial Salamanders Using Morphology, Coloration, and Molecular Markers

Since the advent of molecular tools, hybridization has increasingly been recognized as both a common and an evolutionarily important process. Using single nucleotide polymorphism markers from three nuclear genes, we investigated the extent of hybridization between two terrestrial salamanders (Pletho...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Copeia Vol. 104; no. 1; pp. 132 - 139
Main Authors:	Lehtinen, Richard M, Steratore, Anthony F, Eyre, Meredith M, Cassagnol, Emlyne S, Stern, Mitchell L, Edgington, Hilary A
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Lawrence The American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists 01-03-2016 American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists
Subjects:	Genes Hybridization Morphology Parks & recreation areas Reptiles & amphibians Studies SYMPOSIUM PROCEEDING: PLETHODONTID BIOLOGY Symposium Proceedings: Plethodontid Biology Ohio
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Summary:	Since the advent of molecular tools, hybridization has increasingly been recognized as both a common and an evolutionarily important process. Using single nucleotide polymorphism markers from three nuclear genes, we investigated the extent of hybridization between two terrestrial salamanders (Plethodon cinereus and P. electromorphus) at 13 sites in northeastern Ohio, U.S.A. These markers indicated a high degree of gene flow and introgression in these two species (48 of 90 individuals genotyped were classified as hybrids using a Bayesian assignment algorithm). These hybrids included F₁ individuals and backcrosses to both species. These data as well as mitochondrial DNA sequences from hybrids suggest symmetrical hybridization. A multivariate analysis of standard morphological characters and coloration patterns from image analysis demonstrated that hybrids are intermediate in many ways. However, backcrosses proved difficult to separate from parentals, and the extent of hybridization would have been underestimated using morphology and coloration alone. Given the high frequency of hybrids and their broad geographic distribution, we speculate that these two lineages may be in the process of merging back into a single gene pool.
Bibliography:	http://dx.doi.org/10.1643%2FCH-14-205
ISSN:	0045-8511 2766-1512 1938-5110 2766-1520
DOI:	10.1643/CH-14-205