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Schild A, Baur H, Hertwig ST, Fritz U, Ursenbacher S. Genetic identification, morphology and distribution of Natrixhelvetica subspecies in southern and western Switzerland (Reptilia, Squamata, Serpentes). Zookeys 2024; 1205:223-238. [PMID: 38966573 PMCID: PMC11222720 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1205.123911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Most of Switzerland is inhabited by the nominotypical subspecies of the barred grass snake (Natrixhelveticahelvetica), which is characterized by mitochondrial DNA lineage E. Only in the northeast of the country, the common grass snake (N.natrix) occurs and hybridizes with N.h.helvetica in a narrow contact zone. However, we discovered that in southern and western Switzerland barred grass snakes representing another mtDNA lineage (lineage C) are widely distributed. Lineage C is typical for Alpine populations of the southern subspecies N.h.sicula. Our microsatellite analyses of the Swiss samples revealed differences between the two subspecies and also a substructure with two clusters in each subspecies. Furthermore, we discovered a contact and hybrid zone of N.h.helvetica and N.h.sicula along the northern shore of Lake Geneva and also confirm that interbreeding with alien common grass snakes (N.n.moreotica, mtDNA lineage 7) occurs there. This finding is of concern for nature conservation and measures should be taken to prevent further genetic pollution. Using morphometrics, we found no differences between the two subspecies of N.helvetica, while N.natrix was slightly distinct from N.helvetica.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Schild
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 6, 3012 Bern, SwitzerlandUniversity of BernBernSwitzerland
| | - Hannes Baur
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 6, 3012 Bern, SwitzerlandUniversity of BernBernSwitzerland
- Naturhistorisches Museum Bern, Bernastrasse 15, 3005 Bern, SwitzerlandNatural History Museum BernBernSwitzerland
| | - Stefan T. Hertwig
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 6, 3012 Bern, SwitzerlandUniversity of BernBernSwitzerland
- Naturhistorisches Museum Bern, Bernastrasse 15, 3005 Bern, SwitzerlandNatural History Museum BernBernSwitzerland
| | - Uwe Fritz
- Museum of Zoology (Museum für Tierkunde), Senckenberg Dresden, A. B. Meyer Building, 01109 Dresden, GermanyMuseum of Zoology (Museum für Tierkunde)DresdenGermany
| | - Sylvain Ursenbacher
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Section of Conservation Biology, University of Basel, Bernoullistrasse 32, 4056 Basel, SwitzerlandUniversity of BaselBaselSwitzerland
- info fauna – karch, University of Neuchâtel, Avenue de Bellevaux 51, 2000 Neuchâtel, SwitzerlandUniversity of NeuchâtelNeuchâtelSwitzerland
- Balaton Limnological Research Institute, 8237 Tihany, Klebelsberg Kuno u. 3, HungaryBalaton Limnological Research InstituteTihanyHungary
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Di Nicola MR, Pozzi AV, Mezzadri S, Faraone FP, Russo G, Dorne JLMC, Minuti G. The Endangered Sardinian Grass Snake: Distribution Update, Bioclimatic Niche Modelling, Dorsal Pattern Characterisation, and Literature Review. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:1867. [PMID: 37763271 PMCID: PMC10533143 DOI: 10.3390/life13091867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The Sardinian grass snake, Natrix helvetica cetti, is an endangered endemic snake subspecies with a restricted and highly fragmented geographic distribution. Information on its ecology and detailed geographic distribution are scarce and may negatively impact on its conservation status. Therefore, a literature review on its taxonomy, morphology, ecology, and conservation is presented here. Moreover, field records from the authors, citizen science and the existing literature provide an updated geographic distribution highlighting its presence within 13 new and 7 historic 10 × 10 km cells. Bioclimatic niche modelling was then applied to explore patterns of habitat suitability and phenotypic variation within N. h. cetti. The geographic distribution of the species was found to be positively correlated with altitude and precipitation values, whereas temperature showed a negative correlation. Taken together, these outcomes may explain the snake's presence, particularly in eastern Sardinia. In addition, analysis of distribution overlap with the competing viperine snake (N. maura) and the urodeles as possible overlooked trophic resources (Speleomantes spp. and Euproctus platycephalus) showed overlaps of 66% and 79%, respectively. Finally, geographical or bioclimatic correlations did not explain phenotypic variation patterns observed in this highly polymorphic taxon. Perspectives on future research to investigate N. h. cetti's decline and support effective conservation measures are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Riccardo Di Nicola
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pathobiology, Pharmacology and Zoological Medicine, Wildlife Health Ghent, Ghent University, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
- Unit of Dermatology and Cosmetology, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Via Olgettina 60, 20132 Milan, Italy
- Asociación Herpetológica Española, Apartado de Correos 191, 28911 Leganés, Spain
| | - Andrea Vittorio Pozzi
- Molecular Ecology and Evolution Group, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor LL57 2UW, UK;
| | - Sergio Mezzadri
- Independent Researcher, Via Palmerio, 29121 Piacenza, Italy;
| | - Francesco Paolo Faraone
- Dipartimento Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche, Chimiche e Farmaceutiche, University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 18, 90123 Palermo, Italy;
| | - Giorgio Russo
- VIB-VUB Center for Structural Biology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1090 Brussels, Belgium;
| | - Jean Lou M. C. Dorne
- Methodology and Scientific Support Unit, European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), Via Carlo Magno 1A, 43126 Parma, Italy;
| | - Gianmarco Minuti
- Ecology & Biodiversity Research Unit, Department of Biology, Vrije Universiteit Brussels, 1090 Brussels, Belgium;
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Schöneberg Y, Winter S, Arribas O, Riccardo Di Nicola M, Master M, Benjamin Owens J, Rovatsos M, Wüster W, Janke A, Fritz U. Genomics reveals broad hybridization in deeply divergent Palearctic grass and water snakes (Natrix spp.). Mol Phylogenet Evol 2023; 184:107787. [PMID: 37080398 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2023.107787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/22/2023]
Abstract
Understanding speciation is one of the cornerstones of biological diversity research. Currently, speciation is often understood as a continuous process of divergence that continues until genetic or other incompatibilities minimize or prevent interbreeding. The Palearctic snake genus Natrix is an ideal group to study speciation, as it comprises taxa representing distinct stages of the speciation process, ranging from widely interbreeding parapatric taxa through parapatric species with very limited gene flow in narrow hybrid zones to widely sympatric species. To understand the evolution of reproductive isolation through time, we have sequenced the genomes of all five species within this genus and two additional subspecies. We used both long-read and short-read methods to sequence and de-novo-assemble two high-quality genomes (Natrix h. helvetica, Natrix n. natrix) to their 1.7 Gb length with a contig N50 of 4.6 Mbp and 1.5 Mbp, respectively, and used these as references to assemble the remaining short-read-based genomes. Our phylogenomic analyses yielded a well-supported dated phylogeny and evidence for a surprisingly complex history of interspecific gene flow, including between widely sympatric species. Furthermore, evidence for gene flow was also found for currently allopatric species pairs. Genetic exchange among these well-defined, distinct, and several million-year-old reptile species emphasizes that speciation and maintenance of species distinctness can occur despite continued genetic exchange.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yannis Schöneberg
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (BiK-F), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Institute for Ecology, Evolution and Diversity, Goethe University, Max-von-Laue-Straße 9, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Sven Winter
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (BiK-F), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Savoyenstraße 1, 1160 Vienna, Austria
| | - Oscar Arribas
- IES Castilla, Junta de Castilla, Castilla y León, 42003 Soria, Spain
| | | | - Maya Master
- Molecular Ecology and Evolution at Bangor (MEEB), School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Environment Centre Wales, Bangor LL57 2UW, Wales, UK
| | - John Benjamin Owens
- Molecular Ecology and Evolution at Bangor (MEEB), School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Environment Centre Wales, Bangor LL57 2UW, Wales, UK
| | - Michail Rovatsos
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, 12844 Praha 2, Czech Republic
| | - Wolfgang Wüster
- Molecular Ecology and Evolution at Bangor (MEEB), School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Environment Centre Wales, Bangor LL57 2UW, Wales, UK
| | - Axel Janke
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (BiK-F), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Institute for Ecology, Evolution and Diversity, Goethe University, Max-von-Laue-Straße 9, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; LOEWE-Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (TBG), Senckenberg Nature Research Society, Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Uwe Fritz
- Senckenberg Dresden, Museum of Zoology, A. B. Meyer Building, 01109 Dresden, Germany.
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Asztalos M, Glaw F, Franzen M, Kindler C, Fritz U. Transalpine dispersal: Italian barred grass snakes in southernmost Bavaria—This far but no further! J ZOOL SYST EVOL RES 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/jzs.12471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marika Asztalos
- Museum of Zoology (Museum für Tierkunde) Senckenberg Dresden Dresden Germany
| | - Frank Glaw
- Zoologische Staatssammlung München (ZSM‐SNSB) Munich Germany
| | - Michael Franzen
- Zoologische Staatssammlung München (ZSM‐SNSB) Munich Germany
| | - Carolin Kindler
- Museum of Zoology (Museum für Tierkunde) Senckenberg Dresden Dresden Germany
| | - Uwe Fritz
- Museum of Zoology (Museum für Tierkunde) Senckenberg Dresden Dresden Germany
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