Genetic variation of Lissotriton montandoni from the eastern part of the Slovak Carpathians

Authors

  • Daniel MIHÁLIK National Agricultural and Food Center, Research Institute of Plant Production, Bratislavská cesta 122, Slovakia; Faculty of Natural Sciences, Department of Biotechnology, University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava, Trnava, Slovakia. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3719-8634
  • Milan HAVIAR University of Žilina, Institute of High Mountain Biology, Slovakia.
  • Katarína ONDREIČKOVÁ National Agricultural and Food Center, Research Institute of Plant Production, Bratislavská cesta 122, Slovakia. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6063-6583
  • Marián JANIGA University of Žilina, Institute of High Mountain Biology, Slovakia.
  • Ján KRAIC National Agricultural and Food Center, Research Institute of Plant Production, Bratislavská cesta 122, Slovakia; Faculty of Natural Sciences, Department of Biotechnology, University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava, Trnava, Slovakia. ✉Corresponding author, E-mail: jan.kraic@ucm.sk https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1551-1295

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24193/subbbiol.2025.2.01

Keywords:

Carpathian Newt, Eastern Carpathians, genetic diversity, microsatellite

Abstract

This study investigated the extent of genetic variation in Lissotriton montandoni individuals collected from three locations in the eastern Slovak Carpathians using microsatellite DNA markers. The genetic characteristics of these microsatellite loci were confirmed to be suitable for molecular genetic studies in L. montandoni, as indicated by high polymorphic information content values. Furthermore, a high level of genetic variation was detected in this endemic species of amphibian. The fixation index values suggested minimal differentiation among the three analyzed subpopulations, with only 1% of the total genetic variation occurring between subpopulations, 3% between individuals, and 96% within individuals. The presence of a high number of alleles at the same chromosomal loci contributes to genetic variation across the entire population, which is beneficial and essential for the adaptation of both individuals and the population as a whole to current and future environmental changes.

Article history: Received 25 April 2025; Revised 25 August 2025;
Accepted 25 August 2025; Available online 20 December 2025

References

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STUDIA UBB BIOLOGIA, Volume 70 (LXX), No. 2, December 2025

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Published

2025-12-20

How to Cite

MIHÁLIK, D., HAVIAR, M., ONDREIČKOVÁ, K., JANIGA, M., & KRAIC, J. (2025). Genetic variation of Lissotriton montandoni from the eastern part of the Slovak Carpathians. Studia Universitatis Babeș-Bolyai Biologia, 70(2), 5–13. https://doi.org/10.24193/subbbiol.2025.2.01

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Volume 70, No. 2, December 2025

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