How many species of grass snakes are out there? Phylogeography, gene flow across contact zones and taxonomy of Natrix natrix
Final Report Abstract
Our research project resulted in a comprehensive understanding of phylogeography, gene flow and hybridization of grass snakes, contributing to an enhanced taxonomy. As a result of our studies, two additional species of grass snake have been recognized (Natrix astreptophora, N. helvetica) besides the common grass snake N. natrix. These taxonomic revisions seem to gain wide acceptance and have implications for nature conservation and legislation. The three species of grass snake and genetic lineages within each species offer an interesting system for studying speciation and inter- and intraspecific gene flow. The future application of genomic approaches to tackle functional aspects of gene exchange across geographic contact zones of grass snakes is promising to yield a better understanding of speciation and hybridization in non-model organisms. An unexpected novel finding was the discovery of a refuge of grass snakes in the glacial Central European permafrost region, the first evidence for the glacial survival of a thermophilic egglaying reptile species in this region. Decent press coverage and public attention as well as the excellent dissertation of the project student Carolin Kindler are further evidence for the successful completion of the project.
Publications
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(2014). Phylogeography of grass snakes (Natrix natrix) all around the Baltic Sea: implications for the Holocene colonization of Fennoscandia. Amphibia-Reptilia, 35: 413–424
Kindler, C., Bringsøe, H. & Fritz, U.
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(2016). Integrative taxonomy provides evidence for the species status of the Ibero-Maghrebian grass snake Natrix astreptophora. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 118: 873–888
Pokrant, F., Kindler, C., Ivanov, M., Cheylan, M., Geniez, P., Böhme, W. & Fritz, U.
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(2017). Hybridization patterns in two contact zones of grass snakes reveal a new Central European snake species. Scientific Reports, 7: 7378
Kindler, C., Chèvre, M., Ursenbacher, S., Böhme, W., Hille, A., Jablonski, D., Vamberger, M. & Fritz, U.
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(2018). Extra-Mediterranean glacial refuges in barred and common grass snakes (Natrix helvetica, N. natrix). Scientific Reports, 8: 1821
Kindler, C., Graciá, E. & Fritz, U.
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(2018). Phylogeography of the Ibero-Maghrebian red-eyed grass snake (Natrix astreptophora). Organisms Diversity & Evolution, 18: 143–150
Kindler, C., de Pous, P., Carranza, S., Beddeck, M., Geniez, P. & Fritz, U.
