A new vertebrate species native to the British isles: Bufo spinosus Daudin, 1803 in Jersey

Recent molecular and morphological studies have shown that Bufo bufo and B. spinosus are genetically distinct and morphologically diagnosable across a relatively narrow contact zone in northern France and should be regarded as different species. However, the species identity of the neighbouring popu...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Arntzen, Jan W., Wilkinson, John W., Butôt, Roland, Martínez-Solano, Íñigo
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2014
País:España
Institución:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
Repositorio:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
OAI Identifier:oai:digital.csic.es:10261/142319
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10261/142319
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:RAG1
nDNA
mtDNA
Jersey
Channel Islands
B. spinosus
Bufo bufo
Morphometrics
Descripción
Sumario:Recent molecular and morphological studies have shown that Bufo bufo and B. spinosus are genetically distinct and morphologically diagnosable across a relatively narrow contact zone in northern France and should be regarded as different species. However, the species identity of the neighbouring populations of Bufo on the British Channel Island of Jersey has not been investigated. We here present new molecular (a mtDNA RFLP assay plus sequences of the nuclear RAG1 gene) and morphological evidence that these populations are to be assigned to B. spinosus, and can thus be considered an addition to the native British herpetofauna. Jersey toad populations are declining and have a distinct breeding ecology compared to other populations in mainland Britain. We discuss the results in the light of amphibian conservation efforts in Jersey.