Genetic diversity and structure analysis of critically endangered Goniurosaurus yingdeensis (Squamata, Eublepharidae) based on SSR markers

The Yingde Leopard Gecko ( Goniurosaurus yingdeensis ) is a critically endangered reptile restricted to a narrow-fragmented karst region in China. Investigating the role of terrestrial islands in biodiversity generation by conducting genetic analyses of G. yingdeensis can offer insights into the ecological and evolutionary dynamics of inselbergs, while also providing theoretical and practical guidance for future conservation of this species. In this study, we employed 20 pairs of SSR primers to assess the genetic diversity and analyze the population structure of 86 individuals from 10 geographical populations of G. yingdeensis . The results revealed low genetic diversity in G. yingdeensis . Populations exhibited a high degree of genetic differentiation and a low level of gene flow, which may contribute to the loss of genetic diversity due to genetic drift. Clustering analyses indicated that the genetic differentiation between one population and the other nine was the most pronounced. Furthermore, the genetic distance among G. yingdeensis populations was found to be influenced by more than just spatial distance. This study demonstrates that for species with limited dispersal capability such as G. yingdeensis , karst inselbergs function similarly to aquatic islands in evolutionary processes: gene flow is restricted to a small range by geographic barriers, isolated populations evolve independently, and genetic differentiation increases over time. Among the factors contributing to population isolation in G. yingdeensis , rivers play the most significant role.