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2. Genetic differentiation and population structure within Spanish common frogs (Rana temporaria complex; Ranidae, Amphibia)

Creator:
Veith, Michael, Vences, Miguel, Vieites, David R., Nieto-Roman, Sandra, and Palanca, Antonio
Type:
article and TEXT
Subject:
population genetics, taxonomy, allozymes, Spain, and Rana temporaria
Language:
English
Description:
Genetic differentiation of Rana temporaria from the Pyrenean and Cantabrian mountains in Spain was studied by means of allozyme electrophoresis. 24 loci were analysed in 104 specimens from 15 populations: nine populations from the Pyrenean massif, five populations from the area of the Cantabrian mountain chain (regions of Galicia, Asturias, and Basque Country), and one population from Germany. Three distinct clusters were distinguished by phenetic analysis: (a) the Pyrenean samples and the single population from the Basque Country, (b) the populations from Galicia and Asturias) and (c) the German population. Ordination (PCA) resulted in one principle component (PC1) that separated Cantabrian from Pyrenean populations, and in a second one (PC2) that separated the single German population from the Iberian ones. PC1 indicated introgression that was corroborated by west-east clines in several alleles along the Cantabrian chain. The rather clear separation of the Cantabrian and Pyrenean clusters (mean genetic distance 0.121) suggests that two genetically different subspecies of R. temporaria may be distinguished in Spain. The absence of fixed allelic differences between populations refutes recent hypotheses of the existence of syntopic sibling species within R. temporaria in Spain. Biogeographically, the Pyrenean and Cantabrian populations possibly originated in two separate colonisation events starting from different glacial refuges. The strong morphological differentiation of Pyrenean R. temporaria populations is not paralleled by genetic divergence, and may better be explained by ecological factors such as climate, altitude and vegetation.
Rights:
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/

5. Systematic status of African populations of long-eared bats, genus Plecotus (Mammalia: Chiroptera)

Creator:
Benda, Petr, Kiefer, Andreas, Hanák, Vladimír, and Veith, Michael
Type:
article and TEXT
Subject:
Plecotus, northern Africa, Maghreb, Cyrenaica, Canary Islands, systematics, taxonomy, 16S rDNA, and morphology
Language:
English
Description:
Long-eared bats of the genus Plecotus are widespread over most of temperate Eurasia, marginally reaching the African continent and Macaronesia. Previously, all African populations were assigned to one species, P. auritus, and later to P. austriacus. We analysed museum specimens of African long-eared bat populations using both morphologic and genetic techniques. Based on morphological evidence we recognise four well-defined allopatric populations in northern Africa. They differ in fur coloration, skull morphology and bacular traits. The molecular data support a division of the African populations into at least three well-separated evolutionary lineages. With a combination of these data we define three species of Plecotus occurring in Africa (incl. the Canary Islands) and describe a new subspecies. Small, very pale greyish-brown Egyptian long-eared bats (P. christii Gray, 1838) inhabit desert and semi-deserts habitats of eastern Sahara (Libyan Desert, Nile Valley of Egypt and northern Sudan). Smaller to medium-sized, dark brown Ethiopian long-eared bats (P. balensis Kruskop et Lavrenchenko, 2000) inhabit the Ethiopian Highlands above 2000 metres a. s. l. This form represents the only Afro-tropical species of Plecotus. Large, dark greyish Canarian long-eared bats (P. teneriffae teneriffae Barret-Hamilton, 1907) occur on the three western islands of the Canarian Archipelago. A medium-sized greyish-brown Gaisler’s long-eared bat, P. teneriffae gaisleri subsp. n., is described from the Mediterranean region of Cyrenaica, north-eastern Libya. Due to the lack of substantial morphological differences we preliminarily consider the Maghrebian population of long-eared bats to be consubspecific with P. teneriffae gaisleri subsp. n. The systematic position of the population of Cape Verde Islands remains uncertain.
Rights:
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/