Mediterranean Europe as an area of endemism for small mammals rather than a source for northwards postglacial colonization.

D. T. Bilton, P. M. Mirol, S. Mascheretti, K. Fredga, J. Zima, J. B. Searle*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

There is a general perception that central and northern Europe were colonized by range expansion from Mediterranean refugia at the end of the last glaciation. Data from various species support this scenario, but we question its universality. Our mitochondrial DNA studies on three widespread species of small mammal suggest that colonization may have occurred from glacial refugia in central Europe-western Asia. The haplotypes on the Mediterranean peninsulae are distinctive from those found elsewhere. Rather than contributing to the postglacial colonization of Europe, Mediterranean populations of widespread small mammals may represent long-term isolates undergoing allopatric speciation. This could explain the high endemism of small mammals associated with the Mediterranean peninsulae.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1219-1226
Number of pages0
JournalProc Biol Sci
Volume265
Issue number1402
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 7 Jul 1998

Keywords

  • Animals
  • Arctic Regions
  • Arvicolinae
  • Cold Climate
  • DNA
  • Mitochondrial
  • Ecosystem
  • Emigration and Immigration
  • Haplotypes
  • Mediterranean Region
  • Shrews

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