Genetic Differentiation Of Odorrana Schmackeri Species Complex

The Odorrana schmackeri species complex are Chinese endemic odorous frogs and widely distributed in 15 Provinces(Districts)at the south of Qinling Mountains,China ranging from south temperate to south subtropical zone in the second and third topography ladder.The classification,distribution patterns and phylogenetic relationships have been always controversial due to the similar shape,body,stain,sexual dimorphism and the uncertainty of the distribution for the cryptic species.To investigate and clarify the species composition and distribution range of the complex,the genetic differentiation of Odorrana schmackeri species complex has been analyzed by extensive sampling and geographic populations based on analysis of 2 mitochondrial gene markers in the present study.We obtained the combined sequences(1864bp)of the partial mitochondrial 12 S and 16 S rRNA genes of 1021 individuals from 85 populations in 15 Chinese provinces(Districts),and reconstructed the phylogenetic tree based on the 150 haplotypes.Detailed results are showed in the following:(1)High genetic differentiation occurred in Odorrana schmackeri species complex,and they were obviously divided into six different lineages,(i.e.,A,B,C,D,E and F)with significant support for each lineage(PP = 1.0),and the genetic distance between the six lineages range from 2.6% to 8%.(2)The Odorrana schmackeri species complex included 4 described species,i.e.,Odorrana schmackeri(Lineage A),O.hejiangensis(Lineage C),Odorrana huanggangensis(Lineage E),Odorrana tianmuii(Lineage F),and two cyptic species(Lineage B and Lineage D).In addition,distribution patterns are indicated(1)The distribution of lineage A reached the north of Funiu mountain of Henan province along the Wu mountain and east of Daba mountain from the western areas,and the Luoxiao mountain at the East;(2)Lineage B was distributed in the eastern of Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau and reached Dayao mountain;(3)Lineage C was mainly distributed in the northeast,northern,eastern,southeast of Sichuan basin,and extended to the east of Daba mountain along the Wu mountain,and reached the south of Funiu mountain of Henan province along the Wu mountain and the east of Daba mountain.(4)Lineage D was mainly distributed in the mountain of lower altitude in the southwest,southern and eastern of Sichuan basin,and it dispered to the eastern side of Daba mountain.(5)Lineage E was distributed in the east ofYunnan-Guizhou Plateau and its north boundary was the Wuling mountain,and reached Wuyi mountain and its south areas in Fujian along the eastern Guizhou,Xuefeng mountain,Nanling mountains as well as hillies of Guangdong-Guangxi.(6)Lineage F was distributed in the eastern region of Jiangnan hillies and the north areas of Fujian and Zhejiang hillies and detailed distribution includes the south of the Yangtze river,the east of Ganjiang river and Jiangsu,Anhui,Jiangxi,Zhejiang provinces mountainous area in the north of Wuyi mountain.Conclusions:(1)Lineages of the Odorrana schmackeri species complex(A?B?D?E?F)have high diversity of haplotypes and low diversity of nucleotides,and it was suggested bottleneck event has been followed by population growth in different populations,and it developed to large stable population with long evolutionary history.(2)The Odorrana schmackeri species complex included O.schmackeri,O.hejiangensis,O.huanggangensis,O.tianmuii,and two cyptic species.(3)The special Odorrana schmackeri was only distributed in the west of Luoxiao mountain and 6provinces(cities)at the north of Xuefeng,Nanling mountain and the east of Wushanand Daba mountain.(4)The distribution of Odorrana hejiangensis including 7 provinces(cities),and it was suggested new records in Henan,Hubei,Guizhou provinces,and O.nanjiangensis from Ningqiang Shanxi,Wenxian Shanxi,Nanjiang Sichuan provinces was revised as O.hejiangensis.(5)Odorrana huanggangensis was widely distributed in 6 provinces(Districts)besides Wuyi mountain,and new records have been discovered in Hunan,Guizhou,Guangxi,Guangdong provinces.(6)Odorrana tianmuii was distributed in 4 provinces in the east of China,and new record has been discovered in Jiangxi province,and the traditional recognized O.schmackeri from Zhejiang,Jiangsu,and Anhui provinces has been revised as O.tianmuii.