Genetic diversity of red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) in Lithuania

Abstract

Red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) is well known and widely spread animal trough Eurasian forests. To maintain healthy levels of genetic diversity, animal populations need to remain sufficiently large. Fragmentation of habitats is followed by the fragmentation of resident populations, as a result of which genetic variation may be lost. In this study, genetic diversity of Lithuanian red squirrels was analyzed using microsatellites and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). For microsatellite analysis we used seven different primers (Scv1, Scv3, Scv23, Scv31, Rsμ3, Rsμ4, Rsμ5) that were used in Great Britain to obtain genetic diversity of Red squirrels. For mitochondrial DNA analysis we used Lpro-SQL and SQR-SQR primers. The results that were obtained were compared to other researches done in different European countries. Results revealed high-level genetic diversity of Red squirrel in Lithuania. Microsatellite analysis showed that whole population is not divided in certain groups. Mitochondrial analysis showed that the population of squirrels in Lithuania were not isolated by geographic region from other populations.