Ricerc@Sapienza

ACKGROUND:
A number of studies which have investigated isolation patterns in human populations rely on the analysis of intra- and inter-population genetic statistics of mtDNA polymorphisms. However, this approach makes it difficult to differentiate between the effects of long-term genetic isolation and the random fluctuations of statistics due to reduced sample size.
AIM:
To overcome the confounding effect of sample size when detecting signatures of genetic isolation.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS:

Habitat loss and fragmentation are threatening amphibians by increasing population isolation. However, artificial waterbodies created for livestockmay contrast this phenomenon by providing surrogate habitats for amphibians. Here, we performed a genetic study on an amphibian species, Lissotriton vulgaris meridionalis, in a rural area in central Italy where natural wetlands are disappearing and drinking troughs for cattle watering are widespread.