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The role of southern European peninsulas as glacial refugia for temperate species has been widely established, but the role of cryptic northern refugia has only recently been addressed. Here, we describe the phylogeographic pattern of the forest-dwelling European pine marten (Martes martes), using a 1600-bp mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) fragment from 287 individuals sampled across the entire distribution range of the species. To clarify the relationships between M. martes and its sister species the sable (Martes zibellina) in Fennoscandia and Russia, ten M. zibellina samples were also included in the analyses. Our results reveal the presence of 69 different haplotypes for M. martes and ten haplotypes for M. zibellina, which are split into three major assemblages: Mediterranean, central–northern European, and Fennoscandian–Russian clades, showing a global pattern of spatial segregation, with some area of overlap and genetic admixture. It is apparent that the Mediterranean phylogroup did not significantly contribute to the postglacial recolonization of most of the Palaearctic range of the species. Instead, most of Europe was colonized by the central–northern European phylogroup, which probably survived the last glaciations in northern cryptic refugia, as has previously been suggested by palaeontological studies. A highly divergent phylogroup has been discovered in Fennoscandia–Russia, which includes specimens from both Martes species. Calculations of divergence times suggest that the phylogroups split during the Pleistocene. Overall, our study indicates a complex phylogeographic history for M. martes, indicating a mixed pattern of recolonization of northern Europe from both Mediterranean and non-Mediterranean refugia, providing new insights into the existence of cryptic northern glacial refugia for temperate species in Europe. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2013, 109, 1–18.

SUMMARY We propose a 3-D gravity model for the volcanic structure of the island of Maio (Cape Verde archipelago) with the objective of solving some open questions concerning the geometry and depth of the intrusive Central Igneous Complex. A gravity survey was made covering almost the entire surface of the island. The gravity data was inverted through a non-linear 3-D approach which provided a model constructed in a random growth process. The residual Bouguer gravity field shows a single positive anomaly presenting an elliptic shape with a NW–SE trending long axis. This Bouguer gravity anomaly is slightly off-centred with the island but its outline is concordant with the surface exposure of the Central Igneous Complex. The gravimetric modelling shows a high-density volume whose centre of mass is about 4500 m deep. With increasing depth, and despite the restricted gravimetric resolution, the horizontal sections of the model suggest the presence of two distinct bodies, whose relative position accounts for the elongated shape of the high positive Bouguer gravity anomaly. These bodies are interpreted as magma chambers whose coeval volcanic counterparts are no longer preserved. The orientation defined by the two bodies is similar to that of other structures known in the southern group of the Cape Verde islands, thus suggesting a possible structural control constraining the location of the plutonic intrusions.

Iberus gualtieranus is a species complex of land snails that is endemic to the Iberian Peninsula. The species taxonomy of the group is based merely on the basis of shell morphology, but validity of the existing taxonomy is uncertain. Using mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) data (cytochrome oxidase I and 16S rRNA sequences) we were able to validate the observed phylogenetic taxa within the I. gualtieranus s.l. complex by means of the analysis of specimens of the different morphospecies, together with the study of topotypes. Strong incongruences were obtained between morphology and molecular data. The Iberus alonensis morphospecies comprised several genetically divergent but morphologically cryptic lineages. Considering (1) the allopatric distribution of the operational taxonomic units (OTUs), (2) the morphological differentiation, (3) the possible occurrence of hybridization among the different lineages, and (4) the strong differentiation of the mtDNA phylogroups, we suggest the main lineages obtained, for the time being, may be treated as evolutionary species. The robust phylogenetic reconstruction obtained allows us to consider I. alonensis s.s., Iberus campesinus, Iberus carthaginiensis, and Iberus gualtieranus s.s. as valid species. Two additional unnominated taxa of the alonensis shell type have also been identified. Further subdivisions are also considered, including Iberus gualtieranus mariae and Iberus gualtieranus ornatissimus. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 154, 722-737. ADDITIONAL KEYWORDS: 16S - COI - gastropoda - helicidae - Iberian Peninsula - molecular phylogeny - morphospecies concept.