Genetic structure of populations of fire salamander (Salamandra salamandra) in the territory of the Czech Republic

The fire salamander (Salamandra salamandra) belongs to critically endangered species in the Czech Republic and is protected by international legislation. The salamander is distinguished by great morphological variability (particularly in size and coloration) which is related to the existence of numerous evolution lineages of the species, two of which at least (S. s. salamandra and S. S. terestris) are encountered in the Central European territory. Thus, the fire salamander represents an unusually suitable model for researching the postglacial distribution of vertebrates in this territory. In spite of this, no-one has yet studied the taxonomy and historical biogeography of this species in our country. The project submitted proposes a solution to the issue, based on modern molecular-genetic methods. With the use of mitochondrial DNA markers, the affiliation of Bohemian and Moravian populations of fire salamander, with its individual subspecies or hybrid forms, will be examined.

Project name: Genetic structure of populations of fire salamander (Salamandra salamandra) in the territory of the Czech Republic
Duration: 2017–2018
Agency: National Museum
Project type: Internal grant
NM’s investigator: Mgr. Jindřich Brejcha

Anticipated results/outputs:
The study will form a part of the prepared publication Fauna: Amphibians, and its results will be published in an impact periodical. With respect to the current preparation of an action plan for the protection of salamanders in the Czech Republic in connection with the spread of a fungal pathogen which kills salamanders in Europe, the results obtained should have a fundamental output in the conservationist practice.