The lesser Egyptian jerboa Jaculus jaculus, is a member of the subfamily Dipodinae, known to have a number of subspecies. Previous studies of J. jaculus from North Africa found various morphological forms of unknown t...The lesser Egyptian jerboa Jaculus jaculus, is a member of the subfamily Dipodinae, known to have a number of subspecies. Previous studies of J. jaculus from North Africa found various morphological forms of unknown taxonomic status, which are frequently grouped into two taxa： J. jaculus and J. deserti. We assessed the taxonomic status of this taxon in Tunisia using allozymic （phylogenetic analysis of 23 genetic loci encoding 16 enzymatic proteins） and morphological （multivariate analysis of 13 craniodental characters） analyses of 136 J. jaculus specimens collected from seven localities within its distribution range. Allozymic analysis clearly indicated the existence of two distinct groups of J. jaculus, with a mean genetic distance （D） value of 0.99 and FΩ=0.52. Individuals within the two groups did not show any obvious geographical structuration, even within the Matmata locality which represents the meeting point for the two groups where they were found in sympatry. Additionally, morphometric analysis of 13 craniodental characters was clearly separated the two groups. These results were obtained over a very restricted area of the total distribution of J. jaculus and strongly suggest the occurrence of two separate and often sympatric species within the currently accepted J.jaculus in Tunisia： J.jaculus and J. deserti展开更多
Genetic variability and divergence among natural populations of Jaculus jaculus and J. orientalis in Tunisia were examined by electrophoretic analysis of 16 enzymatic proteins encoded by 23 genetic loci. Low levels of...Genetic variability and divergence among natural populations of Jaculus jaculus and J. orientalis in Tunisia were examined by electrophoretic analysis of 16 enzymatic proteins encoded by 23 genetic loci. Low levels of genetic variability were found among populations of both species in comparison to those of other rodent and mammal species of which data are available. In J. jaculus populations, the mean level of observed heterozygosity （Hobs） ranged from 0.08 to 0.19, while the mean percentage of polymorphic loci （P） ranged from 26.2% to 45.2% and the mean number of alleles per locus （A） ranged from 1.1 to 1.4. Nevertheless, the mean values were 0.10 to 0.15, 29.3% to 44.1% and 1.1 to 1.7, respectively, for J. orientalis. In addition, populations of the two species have revealed a lower degree of genetic differentiation （Fst=0.0017 for J. jaculus and 0.0019 for J. orientalis）. Moreover, Fst was 0.607, P〈0.05 between populations of the two species, indicating that they were highly genetically diverged from each other. The present data assures the previous results on the validity of the present taxonomic situation of the two species and emphasis on the effect of geographic factors （environments type and bioclimatic stages） on the genetic structure of both species.展开更多
文摘The lesser Egyptian jerboa Jaculus jaculus, is a member of the subfamily Dipodinae, known to have a number of subspecies. Previous studies of J. jaculus from North Africa found various morphological forms of unknown taxonomic status, which are frequently grouped into two taxa： J. jaculus and J. deserti. We assessed the taxonomic status of this taxon in Tunisia using allozymic （phylogenetic analysis of 23 genetic loci encoding 16 enzymatic proteins） and morphological （multivariate analysis of 13 craniodental characters） analyses of 136 J. jaculus specimens collected from seven localities within its distribution range. Allozymic analysis clearly indicated the existence of two distinct groups of J. jaculus, with a mean genetic distance （D） value of 0.99 and FΩ=0.52. Individuals within the two groups did not show any obvious geographical structuration, even within the Matmata locality which represents the meeting point for the two groups where they were found in sympatry. Additionally, morphometric analysis of 13 craniodental characters was clearly separated the two groups. These results were obtained over a very restricted area of the total distribution of J. jaculus and strongly suggest the occurrence of two separate and often sympatric species within the currently accepted J.jaculus in Tunisia： J.jaculus and J. deserti
文摘Genetic variability and divergence among natural populations of Jaculus jaculus and J. orientalis in Tunisia were examined by electrophoretic analysis of 16 enzymatic proteins encoded by 23 genetic loci. Low levels of genetic variability were found among populations of both species in comparison to those of other rodent and mammal species of which data are available. In J. jaculus populations, the mean level of observed heterozygosity （Hobs） ranged from 0.08 to 0.19, while the mean percentage of polymorphic loci （P） ranged from 26.2% to 45.2% and the mean number of alleles per locus （A） ranged from 1.1 to 1.4. Nevertheless, the mean values were 0.10 to 0.15, 29.3% to 44.1% and 1.1 to 1.7, respectively, for J. orientalis. In addition, populations of the two species have revealed a lower degree of genetic differentiation （Fst=0.0017 for J. jaculus and 0.0019 for J. orientalis）. Moreover, Fst was 0.607, P〈0.05 between populations of the two species, indicating that they were highly genetically diverged from each other. The present data assures the previous results on the validity of the present taxonomic situation of the two species and emphasis on the effect of geographic factors （environments type and bioclimatic stages） on the genetic structure of both species.
