Mitochondrial-DNA sequence variation, and the genetic affinity of Peromyscus from the Triangle Island, British Columbia, Canada

Abstract

To determine the genetic and specific affinity of deer mice (Peromyscus) inhabiting Triangle Island, British Colombia, Canada, a 1,439 base-pair (bp) fragment of the mitochondrial genome (containing the ND3, ND4L, and a portion of the ND4 genes) was sequenced for twenty-seven individuals and compared to corresponding data from reference individuals of P. maniculatus and P. keeni. Analysis of sequences for the deer mice from Triangle Island revealed the existence of four sequences with a total percent sequence divergence of 0.093%. Among the individuals, one sequence predominated and characterized 14 of the 27 (52%) individuals. Each of the other sequences occurred in smaller, but similar, proportions (6, 22%; 4, 15%; 3, 11%) of the population sample. Phylogenetic analyses grouped the four sequences from the Triangle Island population and placed them within a cluster otherwise comprised of the P. keeni reference samples. The reference samples of P. maniculatus clustered outside and essentially equidistant from the P. keeni/Triangle Island deer mouse assemblage. These data clearly indicate that the deer mice from Triangle Island are representative of P. keeni, and support the taxonomic relegation of these mice from P. m. triangularis to P. k. triangularis.