MITOCHONDRIAL-DNA PHYLOGEOGRAPHY OF EUROPEAN HEDGEHOGS

European hedgehog populations belonging to Erinaceus europaeus and E. concolor have been investigated by mitochondrial DNA analysis. A 383 b p fragment of the cytochrome b gene has been sequenced and maximum par simony and neighbour-joining trees of Tamura-Nei genetic distance valu es have been constructed. Similar topologies have been produced by bot h methods, showing a deep divergence between E. europaeus and E. conco lor and a further subdivision of each species into a western and an ea stern clade. A comparison with previously published allozyme data is m ade, and concordant and discordant patterns are discussed. The influen ce of Pleistocene glaciations on the observed pattern of divergence is inferred.