Authors : Sevilay Ustunbas, Reyhan Colak, Gul Olgun Karacan and Ercument Colak
Abstract: Water vole, Arvicola amphibius is a rodent distributed widely in Palearctic region. Three subspecies of A. amphibius are distributed in Turkey. A. amphibius lives in Turkey located between Europe and Asia. In Turkey, there is no any study on this species at the level of genetic structure. The aim of the present study was to survey genetic structure based on DNA markers and to contribute to the taxonomic status, population genetics of A. amphibius, distributed in Thrace and Anatolia. A total of 38 specimens were collected from nine locations. In order to explore the extent of genetic variation in A. amphibius populations, a Randomly Amplified Polymorphic (RAPD) DNA marker system was used. The estimates of NEI’s standard genetic identity and standard genetic distance were calculated to show the genetic relationships between populations studied. UPGMA dendogram constructed with genetic distance data was clustered in 2 groups. The 1st group contains Thrace populations and the 2nd one including Anatolian populations was divided into 3 subgroups. Consequently, RAPD-PCR marker system confirmed the validity of A.a. cernjavskii and A.a. persicus.
Sevilay Ustunbas, Reyhan Colak, Gul Olgun Karacan and Ercument Colak, 2011. RAPD-PCR Analysis of Water Vole, Arvicola amphibius (Linnaeus, 1758) (Mammalia: Rodentia) Distributed in Turkey. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 10: 1673-1677.