One species, three Pleistocene evolutionary histories: phylogeography of the Italian crested newt, Triturus carnifex.

ABSTRACT: Phylogeographic patterns of temperate species from the Mediterranean peninsulas have been investigated intensively. Nevertheless, as more phylogeographies become available, either unique patterns or new lines of concordance continue to emerge, providing new insights on the evolution of regional biotas. Here, we investigated the phylogeography and evolutionary history of the Italian crested newt, Triturus carnifex, through phylogenetic, molecular dating and population structure analyses of two mitochondrial gene fragments (ND2 and ND4; overall 1273 bp). We found three main mtDNA lineages having parapatric distribution and estimated divergence times between Late Pliocene and Early Pleistocene. One lineage (S) was widespread south of the northern Apennine chain and was further geographically

SUBMITTER: Canestrelli D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3406094 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature