Postglacial recolonisation in a cold climate specialist in Western Europe: patterns of genetic diversity in the adder (Vipera berus) support the central-marginal hypothesis

Understanding the impact of postglacial recolonization on genetic diversity is essential in explaining current patterns of genetic variation. The central–marginal hypothesis (CMH) predicts a reduction in genetic diversity from the core of the distribution to peripheral populations, as well as reduced connectivity between peripheral populations. While the CMH has received considerable empirical support, its broad applicability is still debated and alternative hypotheses predict different spatial patterns of genetic diversity. Using microsatellite markers, we analysed the genetic diversity of the adder (Vipera berus) in western Europe to reconstruct postglacial recolonization. Approximate Bayesian Computation (ABC) analyses suggested a postglacial recolonization from two routes: a western route from the Atlantic Coast up to Belgium and a central route from the Massif Central to the Alps. This cold-adapted species likely used two isolated glacial refugia in southern France, in permafrost-f...阐明冰期后再定居对遗传多样性的影响，是解释当前遗传变异格局的核心要务。中心-边缘假说（central–marginal hypothesis, CMH）预测，物种分布核心区到边缘种群的遗传多样性会逐步降低，且边缘种群间的连通性也会随之减弱。尽管CMH已获得大量实证支持，但其普遍适用性仍存在广泛争议，其他替代假说则预测了截然不同的遗传多样性空间格局。本研究利用微卫星标记（microsatellite markers），对西欧地区极北蝰（Vipera berus）的遗传多样性展开分析，以重建其冰期后再定居历史。近似贝叶斯计算（Approximate Bayesian Computation, ABC）分析结果显示，该物种存在两条冰期后再定居路径：一条为沿大西洋海岸至比利时的西部路径，另一条为从法国中央高原至阿尔卑斯山的中部路径。这种适应寒冷环境的物种，很可能利用了法国南部两处孤立的冰期避难所，其所处环境为永冻土-...