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Diversity
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Population Genetics and Phylogeography of Mammals: Molecular Applications for the...
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Population Genetics and Phylogeography of Mammals: Molecular Applications for the Conservation and Monitoring of Genetic Diversity

A special issue of Diversity (ISSN 1424-2818). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal Diversity".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 February 2025 | Viewed by 4585

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Rodrigo Vega

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Ecology Research Group, Section of Natural and Applied Sciences, School of Psychology and Life Sciences, Canterbury Christ Church University, Canterbury CT1 1QU, UK
Interests: molecular ecology; conservation genetics; phylogeography; DNA barcoding and metabarcoding; vertebrates
Dr. Sofia I. Gabriel

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal
Interests: rodents; population genetics; genetic diversity; ecology and evolution

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Genetic diversity is fundamental for the long-term persistence and evolution of populations and species in changing environments, and it is considered one of the three conservation priorities alongside ecosystem and species diversity. With over 6000 species, mammals provide diverse and important ecological functional roles in terrestrial and aquatic environments; however, due to anthropogenic activities, many mammal species are threatened by extinction, and other species considered Least Concern for conservation by the IUCN show trends of population declines and genetic diversity loss. This Special Issue aims to present current original research, reviews and short communications on the population genetics and phylogeography of mammals, addressing: 1) conservation genetics and genomics in changing environments, 2) characterising genetic diversity in wild or captive (i.e., zoo, aquarium and sanctuary) populations, 3) phylogeography, cryptic species diversity and identification of evolutionarily significant units, 4) genomic signatures of natural selection, and 5) applications of new (e.g., eDNA, ddRADseq, and ddPCR) and traditional (e.g., mtDNA and microsatellites) molecular methods for monitoring populations and species. With this issue, we intend to depict the latest investigations on any taxonomic group of mammals and in any conservation category, showcasing how molecular markers are being used for understanding patterns of genetic diversity and structure that reflect biological processes and anthropogenic disturbances, and how this information can be used for evidence-based conservation and management practices.

Dr. Rodrigo Vega
Dr. Sofia I. Gabriel
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Diversity is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2100 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • conservation applications
  • conservation genetics and genomics
  • eDNA monitoring
  • genetic diversity
  • mammals
  • phylogeography
  • population genetics and genomics

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 2515 KiB  
Article
Contrasting Patterns of Genetic Diversity in European Mammals in the Context of Glacial Refugia
by Oxala García-Rodríguez, Emilie A. Hardouin, Debbi Pedreschi, Martin B. Richards, Richard Stafford, Jeremy B. Searle and John R. Stewart
Diversity 2024, 16(10), 611; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16100611 - 1 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1732
Abstract
Phylogeographic studies have been conducted on many different mammal species in order to track their recent demographic histories. The climatic fluctuations associated with the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) appear to have had a profound influence on the geographic patterning of genetic diversity in [...] Read more.
Phylogeographic studies have been conducted on many different mammal species in order to track their recent demographic histories. The climatic fluctuations associated with the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) appear to have had a profound influence on the geographic patterning of genetic diversity in mammals. However, most phylogenetic studies have focused on single species. Few have used a holistic approach covering multiple taxa to explore common patterns. Here, we conducted meta-analyses of mitochondrial DNA control region sequences, identifying haplotype diversity and private allelic richness patterns in a geographic context. Four general patterns emerged among European mammals: an east–west decline in variation, a Western-Central belt of the highest diversity, southern richness, and homogeneity with no geographic pattern. These patterns likely reflect the refugial origins of modern populations. The east–west variation decline suggests species with eastern LGM refugia; the Western-Central belt of the highest diversity may harbor taxa with cryptic northern refugia, while southern richness may correspond to traditional southern refugia. Species with homogeneity and no geographic pattern may have been panmictic without a specific refugium or may reflect the occurrence of both southern and cryptic northern refugia. Surprisingly, the “no pattern” phenomenon is seldom discussed and may frequently have been discounted. Our study emphasizes the importance of considering multiple taxa, providing valuable insights into the responses of European mammals to past climatic changes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Population Genetics and Phylogeography of Mammals: Molecular Applications for the Conservation and Monitoring of Genetic Diversity)
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14 pages, 2534 KiB  
Article
Bears into the Niche-Space: Phylogeography and Phyloclimatic Model of the Family Ursidae
by Carlos Luna-Aranguré and Ella Vázquez-Domínguez
Diversity 2024, 16(4), 223; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16040223 - 8 Apr 2024
Viewed by 2372
Abstract
Assessing niche evolution remains an open question and an actively developing area of study. The family Ursidae consists of eight extant species for which, despite being the most studied family of carnivores, little is known about the influence of climate on their evolutionary [...] Read more.
Assessing niche evolution remains an open question and an actively developing area of study. The family Ursidae consists of eight extant species for which, despite being the most studied family of carnivores, little is known about the influence of climate on their evolutionary history and diversification. We evaluated their evolutionary patterns based on a combined phylogeography and niche modeling approach. We used complete mitogenomes, estimated divergence times, generated ecological niche models and applied a phyloclimatic model to determine the species evolutionary and diversification patterns associated with their respective environmental niches. We inferred the family evolutionary path along the environmental conditions of maximum temperature and minimum precipitation, from around 20 million years ago to the present. Our findings show that the phyloclimatic niches of the bear species occupy most of the environmental space available on the planet, except for the most extreme warm conditions, in accordance with the wide geographic distribution of Ursidae. Moreover, some species exhibit broader environmental niches than others, and in some cases, they explore precipitation axes more extensively than temperature axes or vice versa, suggesting that not all species are equally adaptable to these variables. We were able to elucidate potential patterns of niche conservatism and evolution, as well as niche overlapping, suggesting interspecific competitive exclusion between some of the bear species. We present valuable insights into the ecological and evolutionary processes driving the diversification and distribution of the Ursidae. Our approach also provides essential information for guiding effective conservation strategies, particularly in terms of distribution limits in the face of climate change. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Population Genetics and Phylogeography of Mammals: Molecular Applications for the Conservation and Monitoring of Genetic Diversity)
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