Genetic assessment of the Forest Dormouse Dryomys nitedula (Pallas, 1773) in Latvia

The Latvian population of the Forest Dormouse is small and isolated, situated far from main distribution range this species. located in south-eastern region Latvia, close to Belarusian border. Sixty-three nest-boxes were throughout area captured forest dormouse individuals sampled for genetic analysis. Animal age, sex, coordinates place capture recorded. DNA was extracted 120 using QIAamp Mini Kit (Qiagen, Germany). RAPD-PCR polymorphisms at 65 loci used examine diversity differentiation Latvia. 89% polymorphic, average expected heterozygosity over all 0.321, polymorphism information content (PIC) 0.246. program ‘Structure’ perform Bayesian assignment a predefined number clusters. deltaK method identified that most likely clusters within three. Assignment particular cluster mostly corresponded with location where individual captured. Analysis molecular variance (AMOVA) indicated there significant between three pairwise Phipt (a modification Fst) values ranging 0.118 0.180.