Taxonomic status, genetic variability and distribution of marsh frogs (Pelophylax) in the southern part of the Kyrgyz Republic

Abstract

For the analysis of taxonomic status and genetic variability of marsh frogs from the southern part of the Kyrgyz Republic, we studied 22 individuals from eight localities using sequencing of a fragment of the second subunit of the mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase gene and intron 1 of the nuclear serum albumin gene. According to both markers, the majority of studied individuals carriedalleles and haplotypes of the Syrdarya form (Pelophylax sp. novum and the Balkhash mitochondrial lineage). However, introgression of mtDNA of P. persicus was detected in two localities, and the presence of both nuDNA alleles and mtDNA haplotypes of P. persicus was observed in other two localities. The presence of nuDNA alleles and mtDNA haplotypes of P. persicus in the east of the Fergana Valley (more than 270 km from the main range of the species) may be relict or the result of anthropogenic introductions.