Elsevier

Quaternary Science Reviews

Volume 57, 4 December 2012, Pages 95-104
Quaternary Science Reviews

Temporal genetic variation of the red fox, Vulpes vulpes, across western Europe and the British Isles

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2012.10.010Get rights and content
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Abstract

Quaternary climatic fluctuations have had profound effects on the phylogeographic structure of many species. Classically, species were thought to have become isolated in peninsular refugia, but there is limited evidence that large, non-polar species survived outside traditional refugial areas. We examined the phylogeographic structure of the red fox (Vulpes vulpes), a species that shows high ecological adaptability in the western Palaearctic region. We compared mitochondrial DNA sequences (cytochrome b and control region) from 399 modern and 31 ancient individuals from across Europe. Our objective was to test whether red foxes colonised the British Isles from mainland Europe in the late Pleistocene, or whether there is evidence that they persisted in the region through the Last Glacial Maximum.

We found red foxes to show a high degree of phylogeographic structuring across Europe and, consistent with palaeontological and ancient DNA evidence, confirmed via phylogenetic indicators that red foxes were persistent in areas outside peninsular refugia during the last ice age. Bayesian analyses and tests of neutrality indicated population expansion. We conclude that there is evidence that red foxes from the British Isles derived from central European populations that became isolated after the closure of the landbridge with Europe.

Highlights

► Red foxes show a high degree of phylogeographic structuring across Europe. ► Foxes were persistent in areas outside peninsular refugia during the last ice age. ► British foxes originated in central Europe, becoming isolated after 8200 BP.

Keywords

Red fox
Mitochondrial DNA
Cytochrome b gene
Control region
Phylogeography
Europe
British Isles

Cited by (0)

1

Present address: WildOcean, 22 Martello Park, Holywood, BT18 0DG Co. Down, Northern Ireland.

2

Present address: School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading RG6 6AS, UK.