Abstract Intraspecific genetic diversity provides the basis for evolutionary change and is therefore considered the most fundamental level of biodiversity. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and microsatellite loci are the markers most typically used in population-level studies; however, their patterns of genetic variation are not always congruent. This can result in different interpretations of the data, which can impact on management decisions, especially for threatened species. Consequently, in this study, we developed and analysed novel microsatellite markers for the Endangered Western Leopard Toad (WLT), Sclerophrys pantherina, and compared the results to previously published mtDNA data to compare the level of genetic diversity between the two molecular markers. The microsatellite evidence showed signs of a past bottleneck, yet relatively high levels of genetic diversity and low genetic differentiation between two sampling sites. In contrast, the mtDNA revealed moderate to low levels of diversity between sampling sites, and strong genetic differentiation. An explanation for the conflicting patterns may be that the current genetic signature, as depicted by the microsatellite data, is not yet reflected in the mitochondrial dataset; and, as such the data are depicting a timeline for genetic variation within the WLT. Both markers revealed important information about the two sampling sites, which can help inform conservation management of the species.

中文翻译：

---

基于线粒体和微卫星标记的西部豹蟾（Sclerophrys pantherina）的遗传多样性和分化

摘要 种内遗传多样性为进化变化提供了基础，因此被认为是生物多样性的最基本水平。线粒体 DNA (mtDNA) 和微卫星位点是群体水平研究中最常用的标记；然而，它们的遗传变异模式并不总是一致的。这可能导致对数据的不同解释，从而影响管理决策，尤其是对受威胁物种。因此，在本研究中，我们开发并分析了濒危西部豹蟾蜍 (WLT)、Sclerophrys pantherina 的新型微卫星标记，并将结果与​​先前发表的 mtDNA 数据进行了比较，以比较两种分子标记之间的遗传多样性水平。微卫星证据显示了过去瓶颈的迹象，然而，两个采样点之间的遗传多样性水平相对较高，遗传分化程度较低。相比之下，mtDNA 显示采样点之间的多样性中等至低水平，以及强烈的遗传分化。对冲突模式的一种解释可能是微卫星数据所描述的当前遗传特征尚未反映在线粒体数据集中；并且，因此数据描绘了 WLT 内遗传变异的时间表。两个标记都揭示了关于两个采样点的重要信息，这有助于为该物种的保护管理提供信息。对冲突模式的一种解释可能是微卫星数据所描述的当前遗传特征尚未反映在线粒体数据集中；并且，因此数据描绘了 WLT 内遗传变异的时间表。两个标记都揭示了关于两个采样点的重要信息，这有助于为该物种的保护管理提供信息。对冲突模式的一种解释可能是微卫星数据所描述的当前遗传特征尚未反映在线粒体数据集中；并且，因此数据描绘了 WLT 内遗传变异的时间表。两个标记都揭示了关于两个采样点的重要信息，这有助于为该物种的保护管理提供信息。