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Identifier |
000390092 |
Title |
Φυλογεωγραφία και οριοθέτηση ειδών του Σαχαρο-Αραβικού γένους Mesalina (Sauria: Lacertidae) με χρήση γενετικών δεικτών |
Alternative Title |
Phylogeography and species delimitation of the Saharo-Arabian genus Mesalina (Sauria: Lacertidae) based on genetic markers |
Author
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Καπλή, Πασχαλιά
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Thesis advisor
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Πουλακάκης, Νικόλαος
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Reviewer
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Μυλωνάς, Μωυσής
Μαγουλάς, Α.
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Abstract |
The area of the Middle East and North Africa constitute the “Saharo-Sindian”
zoogeographical region that is characterized by the widest system of warm deserts
globally. The periphery of the desert zone has been recognized at sites (e.g. African
and Middle-eastern Mediterranean zone) as high biodiversity zone. However, our
knowledge on the biodiversity of the main Saharo-Arabian region and of the historical
processes that have shaped it, remains limited. The lack of knowledge could be
primarily attributed to the practical difficulties in the access of the area as well as the
methodological difficulty in reconstructing the historical biogeography in such
dynamically changing areas. Understanding the biodiversity patterns in the widest
desert system would eventually enhance both our understanding and the approaching
methods in historical biogeography. Furthermore, such studies could provide
important knowledge in the context of confronting and preventing desertification
events. The main goal of the present study was to contribute to the understanding of
historical processes that have shaped the fauna of the Saharo-Arabian region. Within
that frame we conducted the systematic study of the lizard genus Mesalina Gray 1838,
also known as the “desert runner” that is widely distributed in the study area. To
achieve that, we retrieved both mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences, which
were analysed with up to date phylogenetic and phylogeographic methods. For the de
novo approach of the number of Mesalina species, we propose a new methodology
that extends the application of the “Poisson Tree Process” and “Generalized Mixed
Yule Coalescent” so that multiple genetic markers can be taken under account in the
species estimation. According to the results, Mesalina originated in early Miocene
(21-23 million years ago). The major splitting events of the genus are driven by the
coupling effect of the dynamic tectonic movement of the Arabian Peninsula and the
climatic oscillations that have occurred since the Miocene. The same historical
processes seem to have been the driving force of other taxonomic groups while
analogous patterns have been observed in the study of other desert systems, as in the
case of Australia. Regarding the number of species of the genus, our results suggest
that the number that was assumed according to morphology (14 species) is
significantly smaller and statistically inferior compared to the number suggested by
the newly proposed methodology (49 species). Thus, the results of the current study corroborates the emerging hypothesis that the Saharo-Arabian region is characterised
by many and geographically restricted species rather than few and widely distributed
species, which is the current perception. Concluding, the findings of the present study
contribute to our understanding of the main forces that have shaped the fauna of the
Saharo-Arabian region and highlight Mesalina as a suitable organism for the
systematic study of the region.
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Language |
Greek, English |
Subject |
Desert |
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Historical biogeography |
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Middle East |
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Multiple genetic loci |
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North Africa |
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Phylogeny |
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Saharo-Arabian region |
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Έρημος |
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Βόρεια Αφρική |
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Ιστορική βιογεωγραφία |
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Μέση Ανατολή |
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Πολλαπλοί γενετικοί δείκτες |
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Σαχαρο-Αραβική περιοχή |
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Φυλογένεση |
Issue date |
2015-01-14 |
Collection
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School/Department--School of Sciences and Engineering--Department of Biology--Doctoral theses
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Type of Work--Doctoral theses
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Permanent Link |
https://elocus.lib.uoc.gr//dlib/e/7/1/metadata-dlib-1423558781-550084-25764.tkl
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Views |
351 |