MtDNA barcoding illuminates native diversity and introduction pathways of slow worms in The Netherlands

Amphibia-Reptilia, vol. 47, pp. 129–135

Abstract

Abstract MtDNA barcoding is a powerful tool for determining the identity and provenance of introduced (cryptic) species. We mtDNA barcode Anguis slow worms from the Netherlands. We show that a non-native population (Zuid-Kennemerland National Park) that was established over a century ago concerns the same species that occurs natively: Anguis fragilis . It carries a haplotype that naturally occurs from The Netherlands to the Balkans. While a lineage from the Balkans up to Western Europe occurs throughout The Netherlands, we detect a lineage from France and Spain in one locality in the southwest of the country. We associate this record with the import of hay bales from France, used for horse feed. In the central Netherlands we find a haplotype previously only reported from Poland, potentially reflecting an unknown introduction or an underestimation of the haplotype’s distribution in the poorly sampled postglacially colonized part of the range.

Authors 9

1. James Driessen Aachen Institute of Biology Leiden Naturalis Biodiversity Center

   Leiden University · Naturalis Biodiversity Center

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Biology Leiden, https://dx.doi.org/4496Leiden University, P.O. Box 9505, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands

   Naturalis Biodiversity Center, P.O. Box 9517, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands

2. Gianluca Cannavacciuolo Aachen Institute of Biology Leiden Naturalis Biodiversity Center

   Leiden University · Naturalis Biodiversity Center

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Biology Leiden, https://dx.doi.org/4496Leiden University, P.O. Box 9505, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands

   Naturalis Biodiversity Center, P.O. Box 9517, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands

3. Hans J. A. J. Breeuwer

   University of Amsterdam

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands

4. Daniel Jablonski

   Comenius University Bratislava

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Zoology, Comenius University in Bratislava, Ilkovičova 6, 842 15 Bratislava, Slovakia

5. Xander van der Sar

   University of Amsterdam

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands

6. Tariq Stark
   Affiliation as printed

   Reptile, Amphibian and Fish Conservation Netherlands (RAVON), P.O. Box 1413, 6501 BK Nijmegen, The Netherlands

7. Richard P.J.H. Struijk
   Affiliation as printed

   Reptile, Amphibian and Fish Conservation Netherlands (RAVON), P.O. Box 1413, 6501 BK Nijmegen, The Netherlands

8. Anagnostis Theodoropoulos Aachen Institute of Biology Leiden Naturalis Biodiversity Center

   Leiden University · Naturalis Biodiversity Center

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Biology Leiden, https://dx.doi.org/4496Leiden University, P.O. Box 9505, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands

   Naturalis Biodiversity Center, P.O. Box 9517, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands

9. Ben Wielstra Aachen Institute of Biology Leiden Naturalis Biodiversity Center

   Leiden University · Naturalis Biodiversity Center

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Biology Leiden, https://dx.doi.org/4496Leiden University, P.O. Box 9505, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands

   Naturalis Biodiversity Center, P.O. Box 9517, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands