The effects of the Late Quaternary glacial-interglacial cycles on Anatolian ground squirrels: range expansion during the glacial periods?

摘要: The present study aimed to understand how Anatolian ground squirrels, Spermophilus xanthoprymnus (Bennett, 1835), have responded global climate changes through the Late Quaternary glacial–interglacial cycles. Accordingly, ecological niche modelling was used, together with molecular phylogeography. Using species occurrence data compiled from field observations and relevant sources maximum entropy machine learning algorithm in MAXENT, an model developed predict potential geographical distribution of S. under reconstructed past (the Last Interglacial, approximately 130 000–116 000 years ago Glacial Maximum, 21 ago) (1950–2000) bioclimatic conditions. In addition, using cytochrome b mitochondrial DNA sequences deposited GenBank Bayesian skyline plot BEAST, demographic events (population fluctuations) were further assessed over history squirrels. Combined phylogeography revealed that xanthoprymnus, itself also a temperate (mid-latitude) species, has glacial– interglacial cycles fashion converse most species: its range expanded rather than contracted during glacial periods periods. other words, squirrels been refugia periods, suggesting classical paradigm contraction expansion for may not be as general previously assumed. © 2013 Linnean Society London, Biological Journal Society, 2013, 109, 19–32. ADDITIONAL KEYWORDS: – expansion-contraction Maximum Interglacial xanthoprymnus.