Inferring phylogenetic structure, taxa hybridization, and divergence times within rock voles of subgenus (Cricetidae: ) using quaddRAD sequencing and a dataset.

The subgenus belongs to the genus (Central Asian mountain vole) and consists of two species: and Phylogenetic relationships within the subgenus remain obscure due to limited sampling, an insufficient number of molecular markers used in phylogenetic studies, and paraphyly observed on mitochondrial trees. In this work, to infer reliable phylogenetic relationships and evaluate putative scenarios of ancient hybridization within the subgenus, we applied double-digest restriction site-associated DNA paired-end (quaddRAD) sequencing to 20 DNA samples (20 individuals), including five species of the genus , and dated the divergence of cytochrome b () lineages within using a "second calibration" approach. We showed monophyly of the two species on the basis of thousands of nuclear loci and demonstrated traces of introgression also in the nuclear genome.

A comparison of microsatellites and genome-wide SNPs for the detection of admixture brings the first molecular evidence for hybridization between and (Mustelidae, Carnivora).

Introgressive hybridization can pose a serious threat to endangered species which have an overlapping distribution such as in the case of two polecat species, and , in Europe. The population size of steppe polecat is known to continuously shrink, whereas its sister species, the European polecat, is still somehow widespread. In this study, we perform an analysis using microsatellite (SSR) and genomic (SNP) data sets to identify natural hybrids between polecats.