Integrative analyses of speciation and divergence in Psammodromus hispanicus (Squamata: Lacertidae).

ABSTRACT:

Background

Genetic, phenotypic and ecological divergence within a lineage is the result of past and ongoing evolutionary processes, which lead ultimately to diversification and speciation. Integrative analyses allow linking diversification to geological, climatic, and ecological events, and thus disentangling the relative importance of different evolutionary drivers in generating and maintaining current species richness.

Results

Here, we use phylogenetic, phenotypic, geographic, and environmental data to investigate diversification in the Spanish sand racer (Psammodromus hispanicus). Phylogenetic, molecular clock dating, and phenotypic analyses show that P. hispanicus consists of three lineages. One lineage from Western Spain diverged 8.3 (2.9-14.7) Mya from the ancestor of

SUBMITTER: Fitze PS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3293786 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature