Download or read book Phylogenetic Relationships Among Australian Agamid Lizards Using Nuclear and Mitochondrial DNA Data written by Emmanuel Nole Asare and published by . This book was released on 2009 with total page 108 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Phylogenetic Relationships Within the Iguanid Lizard Genus Liolaemus Using Nuclear DNA written by Meghann Strain and published by . This book was released on 2007 with total page 22 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Phylogenetic Relationships Among Amphisbaenian Reptiles Based on Complete Mitochondrial Genomic Sequences written by and published by . This book was released on 2004 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Complete mitochondrial genomic sequences are reported from 12 members in the four families of the reptile group Amphisbaenia. Analysis of 11,946 aligned nucleotide positions (5,797 informative) produces a robust phylogenetic hypothesis. The family Rhineuridae is basal and Bipedidae is the sister taxon to the Amphisbaenidae plus Trogonophidae. Amphisbaenian reptiles are surprisingly old, predating the breakup of Pangaea 200 million years before present, because successive basal taxa (Rhineuridae and Bipedidae) are situated in tectonic regions of Laurasia and nested taxa (Amphisbaenidae and Trogonophidae) are found in Gondwanan regions. Thorough sampling within the Bipedidae shows that it is not tectonic movement of Baja California away from the Mexican mainland that is primary in isolating Bipes species, but rather that primary vicariance occurred between northern and southern groups. Amphisbaenian families show parallel reduction in number of limbs and Bipes species exhibit parallel reduction in number of digits. A measure is developed for comparing the phylogenetic information content of various genes. A synapomorphic trait defining the Bipedidae is a shift from the typical vertebrate mitochondrial gene arrangement to the derived state of trnE and nad6. In addition, a tandem duplication of trnT and trnP is observed in B. biporus with a pattern of pseudogene formation that varies among populations. The first case of convergent rearrangement of the mitochondrial genome among animals demonstrated by complete genomic sequences is reported. Relative to most vertebrates, the Rhineuridae has the block nad6, trnE switched in order with cob, trnT, trnP, as they are in birds.
Download or read book Evolutionary History of the Patagonian Liolaemus Fitzingerii Species Group of Lizards written by Jared A. Grummer and published by . This book was released on 2017 with total page 213 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The majority of the world’s land mass and biota reside in the Northern Hemisphere. However, even when land area is accounted for, we know disproportionately less about Southern Hemisphere flora and fauna than their Northern Hemisphere counterparts. The South American biota is extremely unique with high levels of endemism due to a long history of geologic and evolutionary isolation. A prime example of South American endemism is the Squamate family Liolaemidae. In this family, the sole genus Liolaemus has one of the widest elevational, latitudinal, and climatic distributions of any lizard genus anywhere. The 258 described species (at the time of this dissertation) in this genus are distributed across 40 of latitude, from southern Peru to Tierra del Fuego, and from sea level to more than 16,000’ in elevation. The genus Liolaemus is composed of two subclades, Liolaemus (sensu stricto) and Eulaemus, and it is in the second clade that we find the Liolaemus fitzingerii species group. The L. fitzingerii group is ⇠5 million years old and is distributed in the Patagonian shrub-steppe of central Argentina from approximately 37-50 S latitude. Due to its abundance in the field, high morphological diversity, and broad distribution, this species group has been the subject of many taxonomic, ecological and evolutionary studies. Taxonomic studies of the group began in the mid- 19th century when Charles Darwin collected the L. fitzingerii holotype; nine species are currently recognized in the group. Approximately a decade ago in 2006, Avila and colleagues performed an in-depth phylogeographic analysis of this species group where they inferred hybridization and post-Pleistocene glacial range expansion in some of the species in this group. In light of previous studies, I addressed three specific goals that I partitioned into the three chapters of my dissertation: 1) infer evolutionary relationships between described and candidate species in the Liolaemus fitzingerii group, 2) determine the number and geographic extent of genetically distinct populations in the group as a function of geologic features and historic climatic events, and 3) compare evolutionary patterns and processes across independently formed hybrid zones in this group. Each chapter had a distinct molecular dataset. For the first chapter, I collected DNA sequence data for 580 nuclear loci and full mitochondrial genomes of 27 individuals. The dataset for chapter 2 was 178 individuals that were sequenced for ⇠1,500 genome-wide SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms). And for chapter 3, I sampled 267 individuals that were sequenced for 2,000 SNPs and the mitochondrial cytochrome B gene. I performed a variety of phylogenetic reconstruction techniques in chapter 1, including multispecies coalescent and concatenation approaches. Because hybridization was inferred from previous research on this species group, I also conducted network analyses that consider reticulate evolutionary relationships. Although these methodologies are quite distinct, they all revealed low support for relationships between species. Furthermore, the network analyses supported at least two instances of interspecific hybridization. My conclusion is that the poor phylogenetic support reported across analyses indicates a rapid radiation from a common ancestor, but this signal may also be exacerbated by poor taxonomy and an over-description of species. In chapter 2, I sought to determine the effects of landscape features and Pleistocene glacial cycling (e.g., over the last ⇠2.6 million years) on the distribution of populations in the Liolaemus fitzingerii group. With 178 individuals covering the known distribution of this group, analyses revealed six distinct populations that are arranged predominantly in east-west bands. In the north, the Somuncura Plateau marks the interface between two populations, as does the Canquel Plateau in the south. Similarly, the Chubut River forms a nearly complete barrier between two populations in the center of the group’s distribution. Migration analyses bolstered these results, with low levels of migration inferred around these landscape features. An expected effect of late-Pleistocene glaciations is that genetic diversity should be highest in the east and north where refugial populations were predicted to inhabit. The estimates of genetic diversity support this, with higher genetic diversity in the east and north, and conversely lower genetic diversity in the west and south. My analyses of demographic models also support glacial refugia, in that all populations went through a population bottleneck and only very recently have population sizes begun to recover. These results show the importance of geographic features and climatic events in shaping the evolutionary history of the L. fitzingerii species group, and add much needed data to our relatively poor understanding of taxa in this region of the world. My aims for chapter 3 were to characterize suspected hybrid zones in the Liolaemus fitzingerii species group and assess selection on both nuclear and mitochondrial genomes in a comparative manner. Initial analyses revealed a completely unexpected result where four species are connected through three hybrid zones, and two species, L. melanops and L. xanthoviridis each hybridize with two other species. I calculated linkage disequilibrium coefficients for the SNP data and estimated clines for both nuclear and mitochondrial DNA, which allowed me to calculate selection and compare the strength of selection acting on the same species in the different hybrid zones. In all three hybrid zones, the mitochondrial cline was to the south of the nuclear cline, indicating that either the hybrid zones are moving to the north, or that a northward male-biased dispersal occurs in each of these hybrid zones. When comparing levels of selection acting on the same species in each of the three hybrid zones, L. melanops was under stronger selection when hybridizing with L. xanthoviridis as compared to L. shehuen. This is potentially due to limited dispersal abilities of northern L. melanops individuals as compared to individuals in the southern part of the range, or stronger exogenous selection in the south due to differing ecologies of L. xanthoviridis and L. melanops. In the second comparison, the strength of selection against L. xanthoviridis is higher when hybridizing to the south with L. fitzingerii than L. melanops to its north. The higher selection in the south could be due to differing habitats that these two species occupy, or that the low genetic diversity of L. fitzingerii mathematically inflates the selection estimate. In summary, my research supports the notion that species in the Liolaemus fitzingerii group are the result of a rapid evolutionary radiation, and that this signal is likely strengthened by taxonomic inflation. Prominent geologic features such as plateaus and rivers seem to have strongly influenced the spatial distribution of populations in this group, in tandem with glacial cycling over the past 2.5 million years. Hybridization is commonplace where distinct populations meet, which has provided a unique opportunity to study independent replicates of the evolutionary process. My research on the Patagonian Liolaemus fitzingerii species group has helped reduce the knowledge gap of phylogeographic and evolutionary studies between Northern and Southern Hemisphere taxa.
Download or read book Molecular Studies of South American Teiid Lizards Teiidae Squamata from Deep Time to Shallow Divergences written by Derek B. Tucker and published by . This book was released on 2016 with total page 123 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: I focus on phylogenetic relationships of teiid lizards beginning with generic and species relationship within the family, followed by a detailed biogeographical examination of the Caribbean genus Pholidoscelis, and end by studying species boundaries and phylogeographic patterns of the widespread Giant Ameiva Ameiva ameiva. Genomic data (488,656 bp of aligned nuclear DNA) recovered a well-supported phylogeny for Teiidae, showing monophyly for 18 genera including those recently described using morphology and smaller molecular datasets. All three methods of phylogenetic estimation (two species tree, one concatenation) recovered identical topologies except for some relationships within the subfamily Tupinambinae (i.e. position of Salvator and Dracaena) and species relationships within Pholidoscelis, but these were unsupported in all analyses. Phylogenetic reconstruction focused on Caribbean Pholidoscelis recovered novel relationships not reported in previous studies that were based on significantly smaller datasets. Using fossil data, I improve upon divergence time estimates and hypotheses for the biogeographic history of the genus. It is proposed that Pholidoscelis colonized the Caribbean islands through the Lesser Antilles based on biogeographic analysis, the directionality of ocean currents, and evidence that most Caribbean taxa originally colonized from South America. Genetic relationships among populations within the Ameiva ameiva species complex have been poorly understood as a result of its continental-scale distribution and an absence of molecular data for the group. Mitochondrial ND2 data for 357 samples from 233 localities show that A. ameiva may consist of up to six species, with pairwise genetic distances among these six groups ranging from 4.7-12.8%. An examination of morphological characters supports the molecular findings with prediction accuracy of the six clades reaching 72.5% using the seven most diagnostic predictors.
Download or read book Cumulated Index Medicus written by and published by . This book was released on 2000 with total page 1844 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book The Biology and Evolution of Australian Lizards written by Allen E. Greer and published by Surrey Beatty and Sons. This book was released on 1989 with total page 290 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Genetics of Speciation written by David L. Jameson and published by . This book was released on 1977 with total page 360 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The nature of populations, races, subspecies, and species. Genetic basis of isolation. Origin of isolation - theoretical. Origin of isolation - experimental. The nature of the speciation process.
Download or read book The Biology of Chameleons written by Krystal A. Tolley and published by Univ of California Press. This book was released on 2013-11-16 with total page 304 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: They change color depending on their mood. They possess uniquely adapted hands and feet distinct from other tetrapods. They feature independently movable eyes. This comprehensive volume delves into these fascinating details and thorough research about one of the most charismatic families of reptilesÑChameleonidae. Written for professional herpetologists, scholars, researchers, and students, this book takes readers on a voyage across time to discover everything that is known about chameleon biology: anatomy, physiology, adaptations, ecology, behavior, biogeography, phylogeny, classification, and conservation. A description of the natural history of chameleons is given, along with the fossil record and typical characteristics of each genus. The state of chameleons in the modern world is also depicted, complete with new information on the most serious threats to these remarkable reptiles.
Download or read book Neotropical Diversification Patterns and Processes written by Valentí Rull and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2020-03-30 with total page 816 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book provides a comprehensive overview of the patterns of biodiversity in various neotropical ecosystems, as well as a discussion on their historical biogeographies and underlying diversification processes. All chapters were written by prominent researchers in the fields of tropical biology, molecular ecology, climatology, paleoecology, and geography, producing an outstanding collection of essays, synthetic analyses, and novel investigations that describe and improve our understanding of the biodiversity of this unique region. With chapters on the Amazon and Caribbean forests, the Atlantic rainforests, the Andes, the Cerrado savannahs, the Caatinga drylands, the Chaco, and Mesoamerica – along with broad taxonomic coverage – this book summarizes a wide range of hypotheses, views, and methods concerning the processes and mechanisms of neotropical diversification. The range of perspectives presented makes the book a truly comprehensive, state-of-the-art publication on the topic, which will fascinate both scientists and general readers alike.
Download or read book Phylogenetic Relationships of the Lizard Families written by Richard Estes and published by Stanford University Press. This book was released on 1988 with total page 660 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Proceedings written by and published by . This book was released on 2009 with total page 788 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book DNA Barcodes written by Ida Lopez and published by Humana Press. This book was released on 2012-06-12 with total page 470 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A DNA barcode in its simplest definition is one or more short gene sequences taken from a standardized portion of the genome that is used to identify species through reference to DNA sequence libraries or databases. In DNA Barcodes: Methods and Protocols expert researchers in the field detail many of the methods which are now commonly used with DNA barcodes. These methods include the latest information on techniques for generating, applying, and analyzing DNA barcodes across the Tree of Life including animals, fungi, protists, algae, and plants. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular BiologyTM series format, the chapters include the kind of detailed description and implementation advice that is crucial for getting optimal results in the laboratory. Thorough and intuitive, DNA Barcodes: Methods and Protocols aids scientists in continuing to study methods from wet-lab protocols, statistical, and ecological analyses along with guides to future, large-scale collections campaigns.
Download or read book Herpetology written by Laurie J. Vitt and published by Academic Press. This book was released on 2008-12-15 with total page 713 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This third edition, now fully revised and updated by two of Dr. Zug's colleagues, provides herpetology students and amateur reptile and amphibian keepers with the latest taxonomy and species developments from around the world. Herpetology is a rapidly evolving field, which has contributed to new discoveries in many conceptual areas of biology. The authors build on this progress by updating all chapters with new literature, graphics, and discussions—many of which have changed our thinking. With a new emphasis placed on conservation issues, Herpetology continues to broaden the global coverage from earlier editions, recognizing the burgeoning reptile and amphibian research programs and the plight of many species in all countries and all biomes. New information on the remarkable advances in behavioral, physiological, and phylo-geographical data provide students with the current research they need to advance their education and better prepare their future in herpetology.
Download or read book The amphibians and reptiles of Luzon Island Philippines VIII the herpetofauna of Cagayan and Isabela Provinces northern Sierra Madre Mountain Range written by Rafe M. Brown and published by PenSoft Publishers LTD. This book was released on 2013-02-07 with total page 128 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Long celebrated for its more than 7,100 islands, the Philippines is a country in Southeast Asia that shares only with Madagascar the distinction of having been designated as both a Megadiverse Nation and a Global Biodiversity Conservation Hotspot. The terrestrial vertebrate fauna of the northeastern Philippines, specifically Luzon Island, has been the subject of intense interest since the first historical explorations. Historically, numerous works considered the biodiversity of Luzon as ?depauperate? in the sense that they was presumed to contain a reduced number of species shared with a continental mainland source. This view has persisted until recently, when a renewed interest in faunistic studies of the northern Philippines has produced a series of notable discoveries, drawing attention to high levels of species diversity and endemism in the northern reaches of the archipelago. We provide the first report on the herpetological biodiversity (amphibians and reptiles) of the northern Sierra Madre Mountain Range, northeast Luzon Island, Philippines. We combine new and historical data, and the results of recent fieldwork, to highlight at least 101 species present in this unique region of the archipelago. Not only is this fauna largely endemic (approximately 70%), but also our results add to a nascent body of literature suggesting that the northern portions of the archipelago may be substantially more diverse than currently appreciated.
Download or read book Scientific and Standard English Names of Amphibians and Reptiles of North America North of Mexico written by Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. Committee on Standard English and Scientific Names and published by . This book was released on 2001 with total page 104 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
