Long-eared bats of the genus Plecotus are widespread and common over most of the western Palaearctic. Based on recent molecular evidence, they proved to represent a complex of several cryptic species, with three new species being described from Europe in 2002. Evolutionary relationships among the different lineages are still fragmentary because of the limited geographic coverage of previous studies. Here we analyze Plecotus mitochondrial DNA sequences from the entire Mediterranean region and Atlantic Islands. Phylogenetic reconstructions group these western Palaearctic Plecotus into two major clades which split at least 5 Myr ago and that are each subdivided into further subgroups. An 'auritus group' includes the traditional P. auritus species and its sister taxon P. macrobullaris (=P. alpinus) plus related specimens from the Middle East. P. auritus and P. macrobullaris have broadly overlapping distributions in Europe, although the latter is apparently more restricted to mountain ranges. The other major clade, the 'austriacus group,' includes the European species P. austriacus and at least two other related taxa from North Africa (including P. teneriffae from the Canary Islands), the Balkans and Anatolia (P. kolombatovici). The sister species of this 'austriacus group' is P. balensis, an Ethiopian endemic. Phylogenetic reconstructions further suggest that P. austriacus reached Madeira during its relatively recent westward expansion through Europe, while the Canary Islands were colonized by a North African ancestor. Although colonization of the two groups of Atlantic Islands by Plecotus bats followed very distinct routes, neither involved lineages from the 'auritus group.' Furthermore, the Strait of Gibraltar perfectly segregates the distinct lineages, which confirms its key role as a geographic barrier. This study also stresses the biogeographical importance of the Mediterranean region, and particularly of North Africa, in understanding the evolution of the western Palaearctic biotas.
ß , A. (2008). Molecular ecology and phylogeography of the bent-wing bat complex ( Miniopterus schreibersii ) (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) in Asia Minor and adjacent regions. 38 ,[129][130][131][132][133][134][135][136][137][138][139][140][141] In this study we investigate population genetic structure and phylogeography of the bent-wing bat complex ( Miniopterus schreibersii ) in Asia Minor and adjacent regions. PCR amplification and sequencing of the first hypervariable domain of the mitochondrial control region were used to obtain the genetic data. Morphometric differentiation between lineages was analysed by comparing forearm lengths. We found two reciprocally monophyletic lineages within the M . schreibersii complex, identified as M. s. schreibersii and M. s . pallidus . Distributions of the lineages were allopatric with a U-shaped suture zone passing through Central Anatolia. The suture zone separated coastal regions occupied by M. s. schreibersii from inland, higher altitude regions occupied by M. s. pallidus . The lineages showed a considerable sequence divergence of c . 9%, accompanied by a corresponding difference in forearm length. The presence of the genetically distinct lineages, with allopatric distribution and corresponding morphometric differences, probably reflects their long isolation during the ice-age in the Balkans and the Caspian/Caucasus refugia, followed subsequently by expansion into different habitats. Based on the present data, the lineages can be recognized as evolutionary significant units.
Abstract. As feature models for realistic product families may be quite complicated, automated analysis of feature models is desirable. Although several approaches reported in the literature addressed this issue, complex featureattribute and attribute-attribute relationships in extended feature models were not handled effectively. In this article, we introduce a mapping from extended feature models to constraint logic programming over finite domains. This mapping is used to translate basic, cardinality-based, and extended feature models, which may include complex feature-feature, feature-attribute and attribute-attribute cross-tree relationships, into constraint logic programs. It thus enables use of offthe-shelf constraint solvers for the automated analysis of extended feature models involving such complex relationships. We also briefly discuss the ramifications of including feature-attribute relationships in operations of analysis. We believe that this proposal will be effective for further leveraging of constraint logic programming for automated analysis of feature models.
Miniopterus schreibersii is a polytypic bat species, with one of the widest distribution ranges among the mammals. We studied the genetic differentiation and taxonomy of this species in the transition zone between south‐eastern Europe and Anatolia (in Asia), where two subspecies have been described. The results indicated a sharp genetic break between the samples from western Anatolia and south‐eastern Europe and those of eastern Anatolia. In addition, the samples from western Anatolia and south‐eastern Europe were seen to be reciprocally monophyletic, although the differentiation was less drastic. These patterns of genetic differentiation suggest the presence of two distinct groups within the M. schreibersii complex in the region, concordant with previous subspecific recognition. The cause of this genetic break is most likely differentiation in separate glacial refugia followed by secondary contact. However, more samples are needed to assess whether these represent different species, as well as to understand more clearly the causes of this differentiation. © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2006, 87, 577–582.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.