Vicariance divergence and gene flow among islet populations of an endemic lizard.

ABSTRACT: Allopatry and allopatric speciation can arise through two different mechanisms: vicariance or colonization through dispersal. Distinguishing between these different allopatric mechanisms is difficult and one of the major challenges in biogeographical research. Here, we address whether allopatric isolation in an endemic island lizard is the result of vicariance or dispersal. We estimated the amount and direction of gene flow during the divergence of isolated islet populations and subspecies of the endemic Skyros wall lizard Podarcis gaigeae, a phenotypically variable species that inhabits a major island and small islets in the Greek archipelago. We applied isolation-with-migration models to estimate population divergence times, population sizes and gene flow between islet-mainland populatio

SUBMITTER: Runemark A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5617136 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature