Genetic diversity of Rana hanluica based on mitochondrial cytb and nuclear rag2

Rana hanluica is an endemic amphibian in China that is distributed in the hills and mountains south of the Yangtze River. In this study, 162 samples (comprising six groups) from 19 localities were collected, and the genetic diversity of R. hanluica groups was studied using mitochondrial cytb and nuclear rag2. The results showed that the genetic diversity of R. hanluica groups as a whole is high in haplotype diversity and low in nucleotide diversity. All haplotypes clustered into one branch and showed inconsistencies with the geographic structure. The levels of gene flow between the NL group and the other five groups as well as between the LXS group and two groups (WYS and NL) were all greater than 1, indicating that there was no barrier to gene flow between the above groups. Analysis of molecular variance also showed that genetic variation primarily occurred within groups, but the higher genetic differentiation reflected differentiation between groups of R. hanluica that may have been caused by genetic drift. Among the six groups of R. hanluica , only the LXS and NL groups have expanded. In conclusion, the degree of genetic diversity in each group of R. hanluica was not very high, while the level of genetic diversity varied significantly among groups. It is recommended that priority should be given to protecting groups with a large number of unique haplotypes (e.g., NL and LXS); the NL group is distributed in the South Ridge, as an important biological corridor.