Abstract
We investigated the degree and distribution of the genetic variation, and phylogeography, of two species of Malagasy poison frogs, Mantella cowani and M. baroni. The former is critically endangered due to its restricted distribution, habitat destruction and overcollection for the pet trade. Analysis of 526 bp of mtDNA (cytochrome b) resulted in separate haplotype networks for the two species, and discovered hybridization at a single locality. The two networks confirm the status of M. baroni and M. cowani as separate evolutionary species and units for conservation. Within both mitochondrial haplotype networks, specimens from different localities shared numerous identical haplotypes, even those from the most distant sample sites of M. baroni. Most populations were characterized by high haplotype diversity and no haplotype clades exclusive to geographical regions were observed. Protection of a few large populations of these species is therefore likely to conserve much of the mtDNA genetic diversity found in the entire species. While M. baroni is widespread and occurs in many nature reserves, we recommend efficient legal protection of some M. cowani habitats to protect this species against extinction.
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Acknowledgements
We are indebted to Matthias Sanetra and Arie van der Meijden for valuable comments on the manuscript and to Walter Salzburger for help with the graphics. We are grateful to the University of Antananarivo and ICTE/MICET for logistic assistance and to the Malagasy authorities for research and export permits. Y. Chiari was supported by a grant of the Landesgraduiertenförderung Baden-Württemberg. F. Andreone was supported by grants from Nando Peretti Foundation, DAPTF/IUCN and National Amphibian Conservation Center. Laboratory and field work received support from grants of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft to M. Vences and A.␣Meyer, and by the BIOPAT foundation to M.␣Vences.
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Chiari, Y., Andreone, F., Vences, M. et al. Genetic variation of an endangered Malagasy frog, Mantella cowani, and its phylogeographic relationship to the widespread M. baroni . Conserv Genet 6, 1041–1047 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-005-9085-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-005-9085-6