Using phylogeography to promote dormouse conservation: the case of Muscardinus avellanarius (Rodentia, Gliridae)

this study describes the phylogeographic history of the common dormouse, Muscardinus avellanarius rodent strictly protected in europe (habitat directive, annex iv; Bern convention, annex iii). We analyzed the genetics of 120 common dormice across the species’ range, using sequences data from the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene (704 pb). the dataset obtained was analyzed using different phylogenetic reconstructions as well as other methods adapted to phylogeography. A complex phylogeographic pattern has been retrieved from the mitochondrial dnA gene, with the presence of two highly divergent lineages. these two lineages are themselves subdivided into five sublineages, which should be regarde…