Cryptic speciation in Pelobates fuscus (Anura, Pelobatidae): evidence from DNA flow cytometry

Abstract

AbstractThe amount of nuclear DNA in 173 specimens of Pelobates f. fuscus from 34 localities in Russia, Ukraine, Moldavia and Latvia was determined by DNA flow cytometry. Two distinct groups with different genome sizes were identified. The ranges of the genome size variation in the two groups did not overlap. Geographically, these groups with smaller or larger genome size are distributed in the west and in the east of eastern Europe, respectively.