Genetic Diversity and Interpopulation Variability of the Hong Kong Newt (Paramesotriton hongkongensis) in an Urbanized and Deforested Landscape
ABSTRACT Population genetics is a valuable tool for conservationists to quantify population‐level genetic variation and identify priority conservation units. The Hong Kong newt (Paramesotriton hongkongensis) is a tropical salamander restricted to streams and forests in southern China, facing signifi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Ecology and Evolution |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70849 |
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| author | Anthony Lau Shu‐Ping Tseng Nancy E. Karraker David Dudgeon |
| author_facet | Anthony Lau Shu‐Ping Tseng Nancy E. Karraker David Dudgeon |
| author_sort | Anthony Lau |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT Population genetics is a valuable tool for conservationists to quantify population‐level genetic variation and identify priority conservation units. The Hong Kong newt (Paramesotriton hongkongensis) is a tropical salamander restricted to streams and forests in southern China, facing significant challenges from range‐wide deforestation since the 1600s, and recent rapid urban development. Using species‐specific microsatellite markers, we found surprisingly high genetic diversity within and among P. hongkongensis populations, despite long‐term habitat disturbance and fragmentation. Only 2 out of 10 sites exhibited evidence of recent population bottlenecks. Bayesian clustering revealed four well‐supported genetic clusters within the newt's Hong Kong range, suggesting that these should be managed as separate conservation units. Our findings highlight the resilience of this species to historical and contemporary disturbances and emphasize the importance of considering genetic data in conservation planning for amphibians in human‐modified landscapes. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e17a31298e6942e7a9a89b999487fd84 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2045-7758 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj-art-e17a31298e6942e7a9a89b999487fd842025-08-20T02:35:33ZengWileyEcology and Evolution2045-77582025-04-01154n/an/a10.1002/ece3.70849Genetic Diversity and Interpopulation Variability of the Hong Kong Newt (Paramesotriton hongkongensis) in an Urbanized and Deforested LandscapeAnthony Lau0Shu‐Ping Tseng1Nancy E. Karraker2David Dudgeon3Science Unit, School of Interdisciplinary Studies Lingnan University Hong Kong SAR ChinaDepartment of Entomology National Taiwan University Taipei City Taiwan, ROCCenter for Applied Fire and Ecosystem Science New Mexico Consortium Los Alamos New Mexico USASchool of Biological Sciences The University of Hong Kong Hong Kong SAR ChinaABSTRACT Population genetics is a valuable tool for conservationists to quantify population‐level genetic variation and identify priority conservation units. The Hong Kong newt (Paramesotriton hongkongensis) is a tropical salamander restricted to streams and forests in southern China, facing significant challenges from range‐wide deforestation since the 1600s, and recent rapid urban development. Using species‐specific microsatellite markers, we found surprisingly high genetic diversity within and among P. hongkongensis populations, despite long‐term habitat disturbance and fragmentation. Only 2 out of 10 sites exhibited evidence of recent population bottlenecks. Bayesian clustering revealed four well‐supported genetic clusters within the newt's Hong Kong range, suggesting that these should be managed as separate conservation units. Our findings highlight the resilience of this species to historical and contemporary disturbances and emphasize the importance of considering genetic data in conservation planning for amphibians in human‐modified landscapes.https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70849gene flowhabitat fragmentationpopulation geneticsreforestationSalamandridaeurbanization |
| spellingShingle | Anthony Lau Shu‐Ping Tseng Nancy E. Karraker David Dudgeon Genetic Diversity and Interpopulation Variability of the Hong Kong Newt (Paramesotriton hongkongensis) in an Urbanized and Deforested Landscape Ecology and Evolution gene flow habitat fragmentation population genetics reforestation Salamandridae urbanization |
| title | Genetic Diversity and Interpopulation Variability of the Hong Kong Newt (Paramesotriton hongkongensis) in an Urbanized and Deforested Landscape |
| title_full | Genetic Diversity and Interpopulation Variability of the Hong Kong Newt (Paramesotriton hongkongensis) in an Urbanized and Deforested Landscape |
| title_fullStr | Genetic Diversity and Interpopulation Variability of the Hong Kong Newt (Paramesotriton hongkongensis) in an Urbanized and Deforested Landscape |
| title_full_unstemmed | Genetic Diversity and Interpopulation Variability of the Hong Kong Newt (Paramesotriton hongkongensis) in an Urbanized and Deforested Landscape |
| title_short | Genetic Diversity and Interpopulation Variability of the Hong Kong Newt (Paramesotriton hongkongensis) in an Urbanized and Deforested Landscape |
| title_sort | genetic diversity and interpopulation variability of the hong kong newt paramesotriton hongkongensis in an urbanized and deforested landscape |
| topic | gene flow habitat fragmentation population genetics reforestation Salamandridae urbanization |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70849 |
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