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The presence of intraspecific color polymorphism can have multiple impacts on the ecology of a species; as a consequence, particular color morphs may be strongly selected for in a given habitat type. For example, the asp viper (Vipera... more
The presence of intraspecific color polymorphism can have multiple impacts on the ecology of a species; as a consequence, particular color morphs may be strongly selected for in a given habitat type. For example, the asp viper (Vipera aspis) shows a high level of color polymorphism. A blotched morph (cryptic) is common throughout its range (central and western Europe), while a melanistic morph is frequently found in montane populations, presumably for thermoregulatory reasons. Besides, rare atypical uniformly colored individuals are known here and there. Nevertheless, we found in a restricted treeless area of the French Alps, a population containing a high proportion (>50%) of such specimens. The aim of the study is to bring insight into the presence and function of this color morph by (i) studying the genetic structure of these populations using nine microsatellite markers, and testing for (ii) a potential local diversifying selection and (iii) differences in dispersal capacity ...
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PELLET J., DUBEY S. and HOEHN S., 2002. The amphibians of the watershed of the Aubonne river (Switzerland): distribution and habitat analysis. Bull. Soc. vaud. Sc. nat. 88.1: 41-57. The amphibian fauna of the Aubonne watershed (canton de... more
PELLET J., DUBEY S. and HOEHN S., 2002. The amphibians of the watershed of the Aubonne river (Switzerland): distribution and habitat analysis. Bull. Soc. vaud. Sc. nat. 88.1: 41-57. The amphibian fauna of the Aubonne watershed (canton de Vaud , Switzerland) between Ballens and Allaman has been observed during two field studies in spring 2000 and 2001. Twelve amphibian species
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The adaptive function of melanin located in the integument is well known. Although pigments are also deposited in various internal organs, their function is unclear. A review of the literature revealed that 'internal melanin'... more
The adaptive function of melanin located in the integument is well known. Although pigments are also deposited in various internal organs, their function is unclear. A review of the literature revealed that 'internal melanin' protects against parasites, pollutants, low temperature, oxidative stress, hypoxemia and UV light, and is involved in the development and function of organs. Importantly, several studies have shown that the amount of melanin deposited on the external body surface is correlated with the amount located inside the body. This finding raises the possibility that internal melanin plays more important physiological roles in dark than light-colored individuals. Internal melanin and coloration may therefore not evolve independently. This further emphasizes the major role played by indirect selection in evolutionary processes.
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We sequenced 2167 base pairs (bp) of mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b and 16S, and 1390 bp of nuclear genes BRCA1 and ApoB in shrews taxa (Eulipotyphla, family Soricidae). The aim was to study the relationships at higher taxonomic levels... more
We sequenced 2167 base pairs (bp) of mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b and 16S, and 1390 bp of nuclear genes BRCA1 and ApoB in shrews taxa (Eulipotyphla, family Soricidae). The aim was to study the relationships at higher taxonomic levels within this family, and in particular the position of difficult clades such as Anourosorex and Myosorex. The data confirmed two monophyletic subfamilies, Soricinae and Crocidurinae. In the former, the tribes Anourosoricini, Blarinini, Nectogalini, Notiosoricini, and Soricini were supported. The latter was formed by the tribes Myosoricini and Crocidurini. The genus Suncus appeared to be paraphyletic and included Sylvisorex. We further suggest a biogeographical hypothesis, which shows that North America was colonized by three independent lineages of Soricinae during middle Miocene. Our hypothesis is congruent with the first fossil records for these taxa. Using molecular dating, the first exchanges between Africa and Eurasia occurred during the middle Mi...
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Evolutionary Biology, Genetics, Zoology, Africa, Colonization, and 17 morePhylogeny, Fossil record, Mitochondrial DNA, Late Miocene, Americas, Animals, Shrews, Asia, Old World, Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, Molecular phylogenetics, North America, Cell nucleus, Cytochrome B, Molecular dating, Middle Miocene, and Molecular Sequence Data
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The Saharan shrewCrocidura tarfayaensis Vesmanis and Vesmanis, 1980, has a limited disribution along the Atlantic coast of Sahara, south of Agadir (Morocco) through Western Sahara into Mauritania and is only known from few captures and... more
The Saharan shrewCrocidura tarfayaensis Vesmanis and Vesmanis, 1980, has a limited disribution along the Atlantic coast of Sahara, south of Agadir (Morocco) through Western Sahara into Mauritania and is only known from few captures and some owl pellets. Here we report field data from the successful trapping of five specimens ofC. tarfayaensis in the Guelmim region. The habitat was characterized
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DUBEY, S., DIKER, E., KURTONUR, C. and VOGEL, P.(2008), Secondary contact zones and hybridizations: the case of the lesser white-toothed shrew (Crocidura suaveolens group, Soricidae). Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 95:... more
DUBEY, S., DIKER, E., KURTONUR, C. and VOGEL, P.(2008), Secondary contact zones and hybridizations: the case of the lesser white-toothed shrew (Crocidura suaveolens group, Soricidae). Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 95: 557–565. doi: 10.1111/j. 1095-...
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ABSTRACT The marsh frog (Pelophylax ridibundus) has been introduced in many areas in Central and Western Europe as a result of commercial trade with Eastern Europe, and is rapidly replacing the native pool frog (P. lessonae). A large... more
ABSTRACT The marsh frog (Pelophylax ridibundus) has been introduced in many areas in Central and Western Europe as a result of commercial trade with Eastern Europe, and is rapidly replacing the native pool frog (P. lessonae). A large number of Pelophylax species are distributed in Eastern Europe and the strong phenotypic similarity between these species is rendering their identification hazardous. Consequently, alien populations of Pelophylax might not strictly be composed of P. ridibundus as previously suspected. In the present study, we analysed the cytochrome-b and NADH dehydrogenase subunit 3 genes of introduced and native Pelophylax species from Switzerland (299 individuals) in order to properly identify the source populations of the invaders and the genetic status of the native species. Our study highlighted the occurrence of several genetic lineages of invasive frogs in western Switzerland. Unexpectedly, we also showed that several populations of the native pool frog (P. lessonae) cluster with the Italian pool frog P. bergeri from central Italy (considered by some authors as a subspecies of P. lessonae). Hence, these populations are probably also the result of introductions, meaning that the number of native P. lessonae populations is fewer than expected in Switzerland. These findings have important implications concerning the conservation of the endemic pool frog populations, as the presence of multiple alien species could strongly affect their long-term subsistence. © 2014 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2014, ●●, ●●–●●.
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Evolutionary Biology, Genetics, Zoology, Phylogeography, Molecular Evolution, and 21 moreBiogeography, Wildlife Conservation, DNA, Phylogeny, Mitochondrial DNA, Europe, Haplotypes, Animals, Old World, Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, Molecular phylogenetics, Cytochrome B, Wild animals, Cytochrome B Gene, Pseudogene, Genetic variation, Base Sequence, Bayes Theorem, Pseudogenes, Likelihood Functions, and Molecular Sequence Data
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Conservation, Conservation Genetics, Genetic Drift, Gene Flow, Landscape genetics, and 13 moreBiological Sciences, Population structure, Environmental Sciences, Cost Model, Land Use, Extinction Risk, Genetic Differentiation, Landscape connectivity, Inbreeding Depression, Genetic variation, Landscape Genetics, Landscape Fragmentation, and Urban Area
We sequenced 2167 base pairs (bp) of mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b and 16S, and 1390 bp of nuclear genes BRCA1 and ApoB in shrews taxa (Eulipotyphla, family Soricidae). The aim was to study the relationships at higher taxonomic levels... more
We sequenced 2167 base pairs (bp) of mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b and 16S, and 1390 bp of nuclear genes BRCA1 and ApoB in shrews taxa (Eulipotyphla, family Soricidae). The aim was to study the relationships at higher taxonomic levels within this family, and in particular the position of difficult clades such as Anourosorex and Myosorex. The data confirmed two monophyletic subfamilies, Soricinae and Crocidurinae. In the former, the tribes Anourosoricini, Blarinini, Nectogalini, Notiosoricini, and Soricini were supported. The latter was formed by the tribes Myosoricini and Crocidurini. The genus Suncus appeared to be paraphyletic and included Sylvisorex. We further suggest a biogeographical hypothesis, which shows that North America was colonized by three independent lineages of Soricinae during middle Miocene. Our hypothesis is congruent with the first fossil records for these taxa. Using molecular dating, the first exchanges between Africa and Eurasia occurred during the middle Miocene. The last one took place in the Late Miocene, with the dispersion of the genus Crocidura through the old world.