Pleistocene diversification in Morocco and recent demographic expansion in the Mediterranean pond turtle Mauremys leprosa
Quaternary climatic oscillations and geographic barriers have strongly influenced the distribution and diversification of thermophilic species occurring in the Mediterranean Basin. The Western Mediterranean pond turtle, Mauremys leprosa, is widely distributed throughout the Iberian Peninsula, southern France and most of the Maghreb region, with two subspecies currently recognized. In this work, we used 566 samples, including 259 new individuals, across the species range, and sequenced two mitochondrial markers (cytochrome b gene and control region; 163 samples in a concatenated mtDNA dataset) and one nuclear intron (R35; 23 samples representing all identified sublineages) to study the evolu…
DNA metabarcoding of hidden biodiversity in the Mediterranean Basin
One of the most remarkable features of Mediterranean-type regions worldwide is their high levels of biodiversity. However, it is striking that we still know so little about many of its taxa, particularly regarding the invertebrates. This is regrettable, because Mediterranean biodiversity is threatened by a range of factors that include land use changes, overexploitation of natural resources and global climate changes. As a consequence, biodiversity assessments and biomonitoring studies are more urgent than ever, as they provide critical baselines for planning and monitoring conservation programs. For many species groups, key obstacles to the development of comprehensive biodiversity surveys…