Genetic structure of fire salamander (Salamandra salamandra) in urban environment

Dinesh Kumar, M.Sc.

Master's thesis

Abstract:

The fire salamander (Salamandra salamandra) is listed as “vulnerable” in the Czech Red List of Threatened Species and their populations are still significantly declining due to degradation and fragmentation of their natural habitats caused mainly by climatic changes and urbanization. Although various studies investigated in population genetics of fire salamander in its natural environment little is known about the genetic diversity and structure of their populations in urban areas. In this study, 179 individuals were genotyped with 10 microsatellites loci’s collected from 5 different sites to estimate genetic structure and genetic diversity between urban and rural habitats. The current study found no significant differences between urban and rural populations of fire salamanders resulting in a low to moderate level of genetic diversity. It shows that the gene flow was limited in some of the study sites which could be due to the presence of settlement areas and the Vltava River. This study reports that the populations which lie in the urban areas had a considerable degree of differentiation from the rural areas. The major reason behind it could be urban expansion, roads, highways, water or stream disturbance, and less greenery around the urban areas. However, the finding of the northern population (Pop 1) as a distinct population from the rest shows the adaption of fire salamander in the northern region of Prague. The recent spreading of the fungus Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal), as well as the urban expansion, are some serious concerns for the left populations of fire salamander in the European regions and it require further research to make better conservation plans. However, according to the current study, areas with fragmented urban populations of fire salamanders require more research and urban management in order to provide better refuge.

Keywords

city genetics, fire salamanders, microsatellites, population genetics, Salamandra Salamandra

Jazyk práce: English

Datum vytvoření / odevzdání či podání práce: 1. 4. 2022

Obhajoba závěrečné práce

• Vedúci: Ing. Jana Svobodová, Ph.D.

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

Faculty of Environmental Sciences

Master programme / odbor:
Engineering Ecology / Nature Conservation