Geographical Distribution Pattern of Mitochondrial DNA Cytochrome b Diversity in Populations of Arvicola amphibius (Linnaeus, 1758) (Mammalia: Rodentia) in Turkey as Determined by PCR-RFLP

Arvicola amphibius (Linnaeus, 1758) is a semiaquatic rodent living in and around wetland habitats covered by rich vegetation. It has a broad distribution in the Palearctic and three subspecies live in Turkey. In order to identify the geographical distribution of mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b diversity in A. amphibius populations in Turkey, the restriction fragment length polymorphism method was applied. The digestion patterns of four restriction enzymes (Alu I, Rsa I, Sau3A I and EcoR V) in 100 samples of A. amphibius from 20 localities in Turkey brought out four mtDNA lineages [Thrace (THR), central Anatolia (CA), southern Anatolia (SA) and eastern Anatolia (EA)], each having high genetic diversity. In contrast to the three lineages in THR, CA and SA, respectively, corresponding to the known subspecies A. a. cernjavskii, A. a. persicus and A. a. hintoni, separate populations constituting the fourth A. amphibius lineage in EA were determined. The results proved that the variable topography and geomorphological conglomeration process of Anatolia lead to an allopatric differentiation and had a large impact on the appearance and shaping of intraspecific genetic variations in water voles. Moreover, the existing high genetic variability in Turkish water vole populations propounds the importance of Anatolia as a potential refuge in the Pleistocene.