Exploration of a hybrid zone between two toad species in Central Europe’s Carpathian region with a new molecular marker

Zoltán Gál, Tibor Kovács, János Ujszegi, Brandon P. Anthony, Balázs Vági, Orsolya I. Hoffmann

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract (may include machine translation)

Analyzing hybrid zones allows insight into interactions between previously isolated lineages. The distributions of fire-bellied toads (Bombina bombina) and yellow-bellied toads (B. variegata) meet in the Carpathian Basin. We aimed to explore the genetic composition of a transient zone between the two sister species along a transect in the Carpathian foothill region. We collected 230 specimens from 21 locations and sampled them using buccal swabs. We used mitochondrial markers and designed a novel test based on the restriction of the nuclear Ncx-1 gene to distinguish between the two species and determine hybrid individuals. According to our results, the complete Börzsöny Hills and many locations in Krupinská Planina were colonized by B. bombina, including typical B. variegata habitats at higher elevations. However, in Krupinská Planina, the most remote sites still harbor B. variegata populations, often mixed with hybrid individuals. This pattern may indicate the northward and altitudinal range expansion of B. bombina.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)51-57
Number of pages7
JournalNorth-Western Journal of Zoology
Volume18
Issue number1
StatePublished - 2022

Keywords

  • Bombina bombina
  • Bombina variegata
  • Contact zone
  • Distribution mapping
  • Introgression

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