The subspecies concept is not only useful to assess the evolutionary history of species and therefore describe their evolutionary potential, but it also has corollaries for defining conservation units and their management. Within Alpine salamanders, the subspecies status of Salamandra atra prenjensis, isolated in the Dinarides from its nominal subspecies Salamandra atra atra that occurs in the Alps, has been under debate. To remediate this fuzzy taxonomy, the present study investigates 14 morphological traits of Alpine salamanders originating from Austria and from Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H). Multivariate analyses support a geographical structuring of morphological variation and the differentiation between the Dinaric (B&H) and Alpine (Austrian) populations. Within populations, a different correlation pattern among traits is registered, reflecting the distinct genetic architecture of multivariate phenotypes. This morphometric study supports recent molecular evidences of a strong differentiation between the Dinaric and Alpine populations and pleads in favour of the separate subspecies status, although a wider sampling of other populations and the inclusion of additional characters would be necessary to reinforce this conclusion. The recognition of Salamandra atra prenjensis as a distinct subspecies would highly contribute to the better conservation of this emblematic salamander.
Šunje E., Van Damme R., Jelić D., Mueller M., Škrijelj R. and Helfer V. (2019) Morphometric characteristics of Alpine salamanders: a support for subspecies validation and conservation? Amphibia-Reptilia 40(1): 79-89. 10.1163/15685381-20181051
@article{Šunje2019,
Title = {Morphometric characteristics of Alpine salamanders: a support for subspecies validation and conservation?},
Author = {Šunje, Emina and Van Damme, Raoul and Jelić, Dušan and Mueller, Maria and Škrijelj, Rifat and Helfer, Veronique},
Editor = {},
Journal = {Amphibia-Reptilia},
Year = {2019},
Pages = {79-89},
Volume = {40},
Doi = {10.1163/15685381-20181051},
Abstract = {The subspecies concept is not only useful to assess the evolutionary history of species and therefore describe their evolutionary potential, but it also has corollaries for defining conservation units and their management. Within Alpine salamanders, the subspecies status of Salamandra atra prenjensis, isolated in the Dinarides from its nominal subspecies Salamandra atra atra that occurs in the Alps, has been under debate. To remediate this fuzzy taxonomy, the present study investigates 14 morphological traits of Alpine salamanders originating from Austria and from Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H). Multivariate analyses support a geographical structuring of morphological variation and the differentiation between the Dinaric (B&H) and Alpine (Austrian) populations. Within populations, a different correlation pattern among traits is registered, reflecting the distinct genetic architecture of multivariate phenotypes. This morphometric study supports recent molecular evidences of a strong differentiation between the Dinaric and Alpine populations and pleads in favour of the separate subspecies status, although a wider sampling of other populations and the inclusion of additional characters would be necessary to reinforce this conclusion. The recognition of Salamandra atra prenjensis as a distinct subspecies would highly contribute to the better conservation of this emblematic salamander.},
}
TY - JOUR
AU - Šunje, Emina
AU - Van Damme, Raoul
AU - Jelić, Dušan
AU - Mueller, Maria
AU - Škrijelj, Rifat
AU - Helfer, Veronique
TI - Morphometric characteristics of Alpine salamanders: a support for subspecies validation and conservation?
T2 - Amphibia-Reptilia
PY - 2019
SP - 79-89
VL - 40
DO - 10.1163/15685381-20181051
AB - The subspecies concept is not only useful to assess the evolutionary history of species and therefore describe their evolutionary potential, but it also has corollaries for defining conservation units and their management. Within Alpine salamanders, the subspecies status of Salamandra atra prenjensis, isolated in the Dinarides from its nominal subspecies Salamandra atra atra that occurs in the Alps, has been under debate. To remediate this fuzzy taxonomy, the present study investigates 14 morphological traits of Alpine salamanders originating from Austria and from Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H). Multivariate analyses support a geographical structuring of morphological variation and the differentiation between the Dinaric (B&H) and Alpine (Austrian) populations. Within populations, a different correlation pattern among traits is registered, reflecting the distinct genetic architecture of multivariate phenotypes. This morphometric study supports recent molecular evidences of a strong differentiation between the Dinaric and Alpine populations and pleads in favour of the separate subspecies status, although a wider sampling of other populations and the inclusion of additional characters would be necessary to reinforce this conclusion. The recognition of Salamandra atra prenjensis as a distinct subspecies would highly contribute to the better conservation of this emblematic salamander.
ER -
