Population genetic study of Limnonectes kuhlii in Malaysia Borneo

• Main Author: Najmi, Naim
• Format: Final Year Project Report
• Language: English
• Published: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, (UNIMAS) 2015
• Subjects: Q Science (General); QL Zoology
• Online Access: http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/34311/1/Population%20genetic%20study%20of%20Limnonectes%20Kuhlii%20in%20Malaysian%20Borneo%20%28fulltext%29.pdf; http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/34311/
• Institution: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak

Mitochondrial DNA of partial 16S rRNA gene was used to infer the population genetic study of Limnonectes kuhlii throughout Malaysian Borneo. A total of 471 bp of 16S rRNA gene were analysed using molecular technique approach via Polymerase Chain Reaction. 31 individuals were included in the population genetic analysis. Two distinct clades were observed. Haplogroups corresponding to the geographical distances; first Glade consist of populations from western part of Sarawak and Sabah(Kubah, Santubong, Mendolong and Kalimantan), while the second Glade consist of samples from eastern part of Sarawak and Sabah (Batang Ai, Mid, Bintulu and Crocker Range). Two haplotypes were detected distinct within population, Hap 2 from Batang Ai and Hap 5 from Kubah. There were two population were panmictic, Batang Ai dan Kubah. The Lupar gap has become the geographical barrier that restrict gene flow and completely isolated the western populations from eastern populations. Overall population of this species resulted ragged multimodal mismatch distribution, long terminal branches and high mutational site of network, suggesting that population of L. kuhlii in Sarawak and Sabah were rarely migrate and low gene flow. Surprisingly, most of L. kuhlii population showed population constriction due to high N,,, F,, value and presence of two or more mixed subpopulation in a population. Besides, high levels of sequence divergence indicating that high rates of 16S evolution thus suggesting that might be ancient lineage and cryptic species hidden within the species. Mitochondrial DNA is an useful genetic marker to study population genetic of L. kuhlii and this study should be extended in future to infer the overall population genetic structure of this species throughout Borneo and validate their true species status.