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The isolation of populations in the Iberian, Italian and Balkan peninsulas during the ice ages define four main paradigms that explain much of the known distribution of intraspecific genetic diversity in Europe. In this study we investigated the phylogeography of a wide-spread bat species, the bent-winged bat, Miniopterus schreibersii around the Mediterranean basin and in the Caucasus. Environmental Niche Modeling (ENM) analysis was applied to predict both the current distribution of the species and its distribution during the last glacial maximum (LGM). The combination of genetics and ENM results suggest that the populations of M. schreibersii in Europe, the Caucasus and Anatolia went extinct during the LGM, and the refugium for the species was a relatively small area to the east of the Levantine Sea, corresponding to the Mediterranean coasts of present-day Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and northeastern and northwestern Egypt. Subsequently the species first repopulated Anatolia, diversified there, and afterwards expanded into the Caucasus, continental Europe and North Africa after the end of the LGM. The fossil record in Iberia and the ENM results indicate continuous presence of Miniopterus in this peninsula that most probably was related to the Maghrebian lineage during the LGM, which did not persist afterwards. Using our results combined with similar findings in previous studies, we propose a new paradigm explaining the general distribution of genetic diversity in Europe involving the recolonization of the continent, with the main contribution from refugial populations in Anatolia and the Middle East. The study shows how genetics and ENM approaches can complement each other in providing a more detailed picture of intraspecific evolution. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The isolation of populations in the Iberian, the Italian and the Balkan peninsulas during the ice ages define four main paradigms that explain the distribution of intraspecific genetic diversity in Europe, though not without exceptions. In this study we investigated the phylogeography of a wide-spread bat species, the bent-winged bat, Miniopterus schreibersii around the Mediterranean basin and the Caucasus. Samples were collected from 28 new locations in 14 countries, and combined with previous data from four countries. We also undertook an environmental niche modeling (ENM) analysis, for predicting the current and past continental distribution of the species during the last glacial maximum (LGM). The genetics results indicate that populations of M. schreibersii in Europe went extinct and the continent was repopulated from Anatolia after the end of the LGM. The data show signatures of a gradual geographic expansion, as well as philopatric distributions of individual populations. In the Maghrebian region of North Africa, there is evidence for the presence of a new Miniopterus species (Miniopterus maghrebensis) occurring sympatrically with the nominotypic form, which we describe here for the first time. However, the fossil record in Iberia and the ENM results indicate continuous presence of Miniopterus in this peninsula that most probably was related to the Mahgrebian lineage during the LGM, but did not persist after the LGM. Combined with similar results from previous studies, we define a new paradigm that involves the recolonization of all of Europe from Anatolia. The study shows how genetics and ENM approaches can complement each other in providing a more detailed picture of intraspecific evolution of species.

Our study area is located in eastern Turkey in the Sar? kam?? Allahüekber Mountains National Park and surrounding forests, which cover about 631 km2. Using non-invasive sampling of brown bear scats, our objective is to take the initial steps to map the range of, to determine the intensity of their use of the forests and in particular to genetically identify the minimum population size of the bears. The initial scat collection was opportunistic (30 samples), however systematic sampling will be carried out throughout July - September in 2012. In genetic analyses we will follow the Common Guidelines for Genetic Study of Brown Bears (Ursus arctos) in Southeastern Europe (2009), including the in- depth analyses of eventual tissue (invasive) samples. Population density estimations and an assessment of the genetic variability of this population will be made and its genetic relationships with the other Palearctic populations will be determined. Current gap in knowledge on population status is limiting the proper application of conservation measures including the creation of sound management plan and we hope that our study will help to fill in that gap.

WOS: 000375896000026, PubMed ID: 27001602, The isolation of populations in the Iberian, Italian and Balkan peninsulas during the ice ages define four main paradigms that explain much of the known distribution of intraspecific genetic diversity in Europe. In this study we investigated the phylogeography of a wide-spread bat species, the bent-winged bat, Miniopterus schreibersii around the Mediterranean basin and in the Caucasus. Environmental Niche Modeling (ENM) analysis was applied to predict both the current distribution of the species and its distribution during the last glacial maximum (LGM). The combination of genetics and ENM results suggest that the populations of M. schreibersii in Europe, the Caucasus and Anatolia went extinct during the LGM, and the refugium for the species was a relatively small area to the east of the Levantine Sea, corresponding to the Mediterranean coasts of present-day Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and northeastern and northwestern Egypt. Subsequently the species first repopulated Anatolia, diversified there, and afterwards expanded into the Caucasus, continental Europe and North Africa after the end of the LGM. The fossil record in Iberia and the ENM results indicate continuous presence of Miniopterus in this peninsula that most probably was related to the Maghrebian lineage during the LGM, which did not persist afterwards. Using our results combined with similar findings in previous studies, we propose a new paradigm explaining the general distribution of genetic diversity in Europe involving the recolonization of the continent, with the main contribution from refugial populations in Anatolia and the Middle East. The study shows how genetics and ENM approaches can complement each other in providing a more detailed picture of intraspecific evolution. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved., Research Fund of Bogazici University, Istanbul [08M104, 09S101, 11Y00P2]; Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey, TUBITAK [112T698]; Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia [IF/0497/2013]; IRCSET-Marie Curie International Mobility Fellowship in Science, Engineering and Technology; Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic [DKRVO 00023272], We would like to thank Elizabeth Hemond and three anonymous reviewers for their comments on an earlier version of the manuscript. We also would like to thank Simos Demetropoulos, Petros Lymperakis, Dina Kovac, Vida Zrncic, Darija Josic, Sanja Drakulic, Tea Knapic, Yannis Kazoglou, Elena Papadatou, Xavier Gremillet, Monika Podgorelec, Peter Vallo, Thierry Disca, Vincent Prie, members of the Win-timdouine expedition (Morocco), Wassim M. Hizem, Pr. Said Nouira, and the "Direction generale des fork de Tunisie" for their assistance with the fieldwork. This study was supported by grants from the Research Fund of Bogazici University, Istanbul (08M104, 09S101 and 11Y00P2) and the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey, TUBITAK (112T698) to RB, from Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia (research contract IF/0497/2013) to HR, from the IRCSET-Marie Curie International Mobility Fellowship in Science, Engineering and Technology to SJP, and from the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic (# DKRVO 00023272) to PB.