Genetic differentiation among populations of Myopus schisticolor (the wood lemming) ― isozyme variation

To investigate genetic differentiation among populations of the wood lemming Myopus schisticolor (Muridae, Rodentia) isozyme variation in 10 populations from three regions, Fennoscandia, Western and Eastern Siberia, was examined. From 20 loci examined, the two most polymorphic ones, Idh-1 and Pgi-1, were used in the complete survey. The results of hierarchical F-statistics analysis showed significant differentiation among all populations; single locus FPT values agreed well (Idh-1, FPT = 0.20; Pgi-1, FPT = 0.20). However, allele frequencies at each locus demonstrated different patterns of subdivision among populations within regions and between regions. Thus, significant values of F-statistics within (FPR = 0.10) and between (FRT = 0.10) regions were found at Idh-1. Pgi-1 showed no significant differentiation among populations within regions (FPR = 0.01). The subdivision among populations at Pgi-1 was based on differentiation between regions (FRT = 0.19). The lack of differentiation among populations within a geographical region at the Pgi-1 locus is surprising for any rodent species, and the discrepancy between single-locus patterns of subdivision seems likely to result from selection at the Pgi-1 locus.