Abstract
In the last few years, DNA barcoding became an established method for species identification in biodiversity inventories and monitoring studies. Such studies depend on the access to a comprehensive reference data base, covering all relevant taxa. Here we present a comprehensive DNA barcode inventory of all amphibian and reptile species native to Austria, except for the putatively extinct Vipera ursinii rakosiensis and Lissotriton helveticus, which has been only recently reported for the very western edge of Austria. A total of 194 DNA barcodes were generated in the framework of the Austrian Barcode of Life (ABOL) initiative. Species identification via DNA barcodes was successful for most species, except for the hybridogenetic species complex of water frogs (Pelophylax spp.) and the crested newts (Triturus spp.), in areas of sympatry. However, DNA barcoding also proved powerful in detecting deep conspecific lineages, e.g. within Natrix natrix or the wall lizard (Podarcis muralis), resulting in more than one Barcode Index Number (BIN) per species. Moreover, DNA barcodes revealed the presence of Natrix helvetica, which has been elevated to species level only recently, and genetic signatures of the Italian water frog Pelophylax bergeri in Western Austria for the first time. Comparison to previously published DNA barcoding data of European amphibians and reptiles corroborated the results of the Austrian data but also revealed certain peculiarities, underlining the particular strengths and in the case of the genus Pelophylax also the limitations of DNA barcoding. Consequently, DNA barcoding is not only powerful for species identification of all life stages of most Austrian amphibian and reptile species, but also for the detection of new species, the monitoring of gene flow or the presence of alien populations and/or species. Thus, DNA barcoding and the data generated in this study may serve both scientific and national or even transnational conservation purposes.
Highlights
Amphibians and reptiles -at least across Europe- comprise rather species poor taxonomic groups compared to other classes of vertebrates [1]
COI sequence data proved the presence of N. helvetica, which has been elevated to species level only recently, and the first ever recovered genetic signatures of the Italian water frog (P. bergeri) in Austria
Of the 11 families, 22 genera and 34 species of amphibians and reptiles occurring in Austria, only the hybridogenetic species group of water frogs (Pelophylax spp.) and the crested newt species (Triturus spp.), for which hybrids are known to exist in areas where two or more species occur in sympatry [49,50,51], could not be resolved properly by the COI tree
Summary
Amphibians and reptiles -at least across Europe- comprise rather species poor taxonomic groups compared to other classes of vertebrates [1]. Despite their low species diversity, they are important indicators for biomonitoring and conservation management due to their sensitivity to environmental changes [1,2,3,4,5,6,7] They show high vulnerability to changes in water regime, land use, pollution, habitat disruption, fragmentation and destruction and changes in interspecific competition accompanied by novel pathogens, like the chytrid fungus infesting amphibians or Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola, the snake fungal disease [4,5,8,9,10,11]. While determination of adult or fully-grown specimens is usually a routine exercise for experts, identification of leftovers from road kills, eggs or larvae of closely related species such as newts (Triturus spp.) and frogs (Rana spp., Pelophylax spp.) can pose a bigger challenge [7] These challenges may often be overcome by DNA barcoding, a method that compares short, standardized gene sequences with a reference database [23]. All of this data contributes to the global iBOL initiative [29] and can be used either for direct comparison or as the basis for environmental DNA (eDNA) approaches for studies on biodiversity, population dynamics, range shifts and anthropogenic translocation of species [7,30,31]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
