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AuthorBertola, L.D.
AuthorJongbloed, H.
Authorvan der Gaag, K.J.
Authorde Knijff, P.
AuthorYamaguchi, N.
AuthorHooghiemstra, H.
AuthorBauer, H.
AuthorHenschel, P.
AuthorWhite, P.A.
AuthorDriscoll, C.A.
AuthorTende, T.
AuthorOttosson, U.
AuthorSaidu, Y.
AuthorVrieling, K.
Authorde Iongh, H.H.
Available date2016-10-17T09:00:06Z
Publication Date2016-08-04
Publication NameScientific Reports
Identifierhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1038/srep30807
CitationBertola, L. D. et al. Phylogeographic Patterns in Africa and High Resolution Delineation of Genetic Clades in the Lion (Panthera leo). Sci. Rep. 6, 30807; (2016).
URIhttp://hdl.handle.net/10576/4895
AbstractComparative phylogeography of African savannah mammals shows a congruent pattern in which populations in West/Central Africa are distinct from populations in East/Southern Africa. However, for the lion, all African populations are currently classified as a single subspecies (Panthera leo leo), while the only remaining population in Asia is considered to be distinct (Panthera leo persica). This distinction is disputed both by morphological and genetic data. In this study we introduce the lion as a model for African phylogeography. Analyses of mtDNA sequences reveal six supported clades and a strongly supported ancestral dichotomy with northern populations (West Africa, Central Africa, North Africa/Asia) on one branch, and southern populations (North East Africa, East/Southern Africa and South West Africa) on the other. We review taxonomies and phylogenies of other large savannah mammals, illustrating that similar clades are found in other species. The described phylogeographic pattern is considered in relation to large scale environmental changes in Africa over the past 300,000 years, attributable to climate. Refugial areas, predicted by climate envelope models, further confirm the observed pattern. We support the revision of current lion taxonomy, as recognition of a northern and a southern subspecies is more parsimonious with the evolutionary history of the lion.
SponsorNetherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) (project no. 820.01.002).
Languageen
PublisherNature Publishing Group
SubjectConservation
Savannah mammals
Taxonomy
Evolutionary history
TitlePhylogeographic Patterns in Africa and High Resolution Delineation of Genetic Clades in the Lion (Panthera leo)
TypeArticle
Volume Number6
ESSN2045-2322
dc.accessType Open Access


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