3 research outputs found
Tracking the introduction history of Ichthyosaura alpestris in a protected area of Central Spain
One of the main goals of protected areas, especially
National Parks, is biodiversity conservation. Taking
into account the multiple negative impacts that allochthonous
animals can cause in an ecosystem, it is important to
know and track the introductions in order to take efficient
management measures to enhance biodiversity conservation.
We study the origin of an Ichthyosaura alpestris population
in Peñalara Massif within the Guadarrama National
Park, Central Spain. To accomplish this goal, we used
nine microsatellite markers and sequences from 16S and
ND4 genes. Both mitochondrial DNA and microsatellite
analyses showed the close relationship between Peñalara
and Asturian populations, despite their geographical distance,
confirming the allochthonous origin of this population.
Interestingly, more than one introduction event seems
to have occurred with individuals from Lago Ercina and
Pozos de Lloroza populations participating in the founding of the Peñalara population. Due to predation, competition
and transmission of diseases enhanced by its ongoing
expansion, I. alpestris population might be considered a
threat to Peñalara biodiversity. We advise an efficient population
control to conserve the biodiversity within the Guadarrama
National Park and an update of the position of this
population in the Spanish indexes and list of species