Abstract
BackgroundPeninsulas often harvest high genetic diversity through repeated southward migrations of species during glacial maxima. Studies addressing within-species evolutionary responses to climate fluctuations in northeast Asia are limited compared to other regions of the world, and more so in the Korean Peninsula. In this study, we conducted the first population-level study of the yellow-throated marten, Martes flavigula, from the Korean Peninsula, Russian, Taiwanese and Chinese localities in a biogeographic framework using mitochondrial (cyt-b, nd2, cr) and nuclear gene sequencing (ghr).ResultsBayesian analyses revealed a rather young population, with a split from the most recent common ancestor at around 125 kya. Martes flavigula likely colonized the Korean Peninsula from Mainland China through the Yellow Sea twice, ca. 60 kya and 20 kya. Korean martens diversified during the Late Pleistocene with at least two dispersal events out of Korea, towards the southwest to Taiwan (ca. 80 kya) and towards the North into Russia and eastern China; most likely after the Last Glacial Maxima (ca. 20 kya). We argue that the lack of population structure and mixed populations is possibly a consequence of the high dispersal capability of the species. The Bayesian skyline plot revealed a population decline within the last 5000 years, suggesting potential negative biotic and anthropogenic effects in the area. We find that local populations are not genetically differentiated, therefore no perceptible population structure within Korea was found.ConclusionsThe topography and geography of the Korean Peninsula has played a pivotal role in its colonization. Connections between the Korean Peninsula and the Mainland through sea-level drops of the Yellow Sea at times of glacial maxima and the high dispersal capability of M. flavigula adds to the lack of geographical structure in this species and the paraphyly of Korean lineages.
Highlights
Peninsulas often harvest high genetic diversity through repeated southward migrations of species during glacial maxima
The combined mitochondrial data set resulted in 2542 bp
Results suggest that the Korean Peninsula was colonized ca. 60 kya followed by Taiwan ca. 10 kya
Summary
Peninsulas often harvest high genetic diversity through repeated southward migrations of species during glacial maxima. Studies addressing within-species evolutionary responses to climate fluctuations in northeast Asia are limited compared to other regions of the world, and more so in the Korean Peninsula. A few studies have addressed the complexity of the Pleistocene to better propose hypotheses on mammal distribution patterns throughout the Korean Peninsula, nearby Russia, eastern China and Japan [16, 24]. Some species are thought to have used the Korean Peninsula as a land bridge for mammals to cross to Japan up to 150 ky BP before the sea started to rise and separated them for the last time [24,25,26,27,28,29]. Subsequent sea level drops in the Late Pleistocene and more recently throughout the LGM (23.5–18 cal. ka B.P.) indicate that the paleo-coastline would have connected the Korean Peninsula, southern China and Taiwan [30, 31], allowing for new migration or expansion routes, but not to Japan [32]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
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
