Climatic preferences and distribution of 6 evolutionary lineages ofTyphlops vermicularis Merrem, 1820 in Turkey using ecological niche modeling

Abstract

According to evolutionary biologists, ecology is a very important factor in speciation. Ecology may be effective at driving adaptive divergence between lineages in different environments and climatic conditions. Because Anatolia has major mountain belts, paleogeographic characteristics, and unique climatic traits, it plays an important role in speciation and shows a barrier effect for many terrestrial species. In this study, we investigated the climatic preferences of 6 isolated evolutionary lineages of Typhlops vermicularis in Anatolia using ecological niche modeling. Our results revealed that both glacial (Last Glacial Maximum) and interglacial (Last Interglacial) modeling, as well as current modeling, showed the most important climatic variables that potentially limit the spread of 6 major lineages of T. vermicularis throughout all of Anatolia. In addition, our results revealed that 6 lineages of T. vermicularis could be adapted to different climatic conditions. Finally, our study demonstrates the unique climatic importance of Anatolia as a center for the local diversification of T. vermicularis.

More evidence of cryptic diversity in Anatololacerta species complex Arnold, Arribas and Carranza, 2007 (Squamata: Lacertidae) and re-evaluation of its current taxonomy

“…It is the second cryptic lineage revealed in Anatololacerta (the first was indicated by Bellati et al, 2015). Other cases of cryptic lineages in amphibians and reptiles of Anatolia have been reported in the past (Plötner et al, 2001;Fritz et al, 2007;Kyriazi et al, 2008;Akın et al, 2010), highlighting the importance of the mountains of the area as "hotspots" of biodiversity (Çiplak, 2003;Çiplak, 2004;Kornilios et al, 2011;Sindaco et al, 2014, Gül, Kumlutaş andIlgaz, 2015). Our findings support a Pleistocenic rapid radiation of the Anatololacerta species group.…”

On Additional Samples of Vipera berus barani Böhme and Joger, 1983 (Reptilia: Ophidia: Viperidae)

“…1.4 data set (Hijmans et al, 2005) with the spatial resolution for past climate variables was 2.5 arc-minutes (approximately 5 km 2 ). Many of these bioclimatic variables appeared unnecessary (Gül et al, 2015) and the correlation matrix was calculated for these variables with SDM toolbox vers. 1.1.…”

New Locality Record of Platyceps najadum (Eichwald, 1831) With Ecological Niche Modeling in Turkey

“…1.4 data set (Hijmans et al 2005;Anonymus, 2019b) with the spatial resolution for past climate variables was 2.5 arc-minutes (approximately 5 km 2 ). Many of these 19 bioclimatic variables appeared redundant (Gül et al, 2015) and the correlation matrix was calculated for these variables with SDM toolbox vers. 1.1.…”