Phylogeography and Genetic Structure of the Steppe Marmot (Marmota bobak Müller, 1776) in Application to Subspecies Taxonomy
Brandler O. Tambovtseva V. Tukhbatullin A. Rumyantsev V. Grachev A. Kapustina S.
October 2025Springer Nature
Mammal Research
2025#70Issue 4563 - 576 pp.
The steppe marmot (Marmota bobak) is a widespread keystone species in the Eurasian steppe ecosystems and an important subject of economic and conservation practices. Its studied morphological variability is characterized by clinal variation in traits and unclear distinctions. The subspecies system, which includes three subspecies, lacks clear spatial boundaries and is controversial. The genetic variability of M. bobak has been poorly studied until now. For the first time, we examined the genetic diversity of M. bobak using molecular markers of the mitochondrial genome: COI, cytb, and the mtDNA control region. We identified two phylogroups, which are distributed in geographical space in an unexpected manner. The genetic structure of the species indicates isolation between eastern and western populations and suggests sequential expansions in both western and eastern directions in the past. The expected barrier effect of the major rivers was not detected. The only ecological and geographical barrier for M. bobak was the Turgay spillway. The artificial relocation of marmots does not appear to have had a significant impact on the phylogeographic structure of the species. The genetic structure of M. bobak does not align with the subspecies system — individuals from all three subspecies terra typica belong to a single phyletic lineage. Preliminary findings suggest the recognition of two M. bobak forms at the subspecies level of divergence and geographically separated by the Turgay Hollow: a western form, associated with the nominative subspecies, and an eastern form, not associated with any of the described subspecies. Further investigation would be beneficial to clarify the subspecies system of M. bobak.
Genetic structure of species , Marmota bobak , Mitochondrial genome markers , Speciation , Steppe ecosystems , Subspecies
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Laboratory of Genome Evolution and Speciation, Koltzov Institute of Developmental Biology of Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russian Federation
Faculty of Geography, Lomonosov’ Moscow State University, Moscow, Russian Federation
Institute of Zoology, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Laboratory of Genome Evolution and Speciation
Faculty of Geography
Institute of Zoology
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