Individualistic response to past climate changes: niche differentiation promotes diverging Quaternary range dynamics in the subspecies of Testudo graeca

摘要: Understanding how species have responded to past climate changes might inform current change may affect species. However, perspectives on species’ response Quaternary cycles mainly stem from studies mid and high latitudes limited information is available at lower latitudes. In these systems a greater variation in individual responses glacial has been suggested, but we lack of clear case such variations. Here, by means ecological niche modelling, characterized the differentiation five subspecies tortoise Testudo graeca north Africa described range dynamics suffered each since Last Glacial Maxima. Molecular data was employed infer population dynamics. The present differentiation, particularly relation rainfall, covering semiarid humid The among promotes very different, even opposite, post-glacial dynamics. Since Maxima, ranges either expanded (T. g. graeca), contracted marokkensis), shifted northwards soussensis) or remained stable cyrenaica T. nabeulensis). supported majority Our work exemplifies how, scenario, phylogenetically close taxa (i.e. level) experience strikingly different biogeographical due former differentiation. supports an individualistic cycles, which can be strong areas precipitation during periods strongly affected distribution idiosyncratic ways. We hypothesize that those (and changes) more unpredictable than temperature.