VARIABILITÀ E DIFFERENZIAMENTO GENETICO IN POPOLAZIONI DI RANA TEMPORARIA DELLA REGIONE ALPINA DEL TRENTINO: DISTRIBUZIONE SPAZIALE E CORRELAZIONE CON ALCUNI PARAMETRI AMBIENTALI

In this study, we aimed to investigate the patterns of genetic diversity and differentiation among Rana temporaria populations of the alpine region of Trentino, and assess the correlation with ecological and environmental factors. We analyzed polymorphism in a set of 13 microsatellites loci, in 12 populations spread over the entire area of interest, for a total of 320 individuals genotyped. The overall levels of genetic diversity were comparable to those found in other European populations, though with a relatively high degree of heterogeneity among sites. None of the ecological variables considered in the study (latitude, longitude, elevation, temperature, precipitation, land use) were able to explain the recorded differences. The central part of the area (Adige Valley and adjacent mountain massifs) was characterized with low genetic diversity, together with relatively strong differentiation between populations. In particular, a critical state has been recognized for the population from the site Viote del Monte Bondone (low levels of genetic diversity, a low value of the estimated effective population size, strong isolation and evidence for a recent bottleneck).