10.6084/m9.figshare.5858070.v1
Inês Freitas
Inês
Freitas
Soumia Fahd
Soumia
Fahd
Guillermo Velo-Antón
Guillermo
Velo-Antón
Fernando Martínez-Freiría
Fernando
Martínez-Freiría
Chasing the phantom: biogeography and conservation of Vipera latastei-monticola in the Maghreb (North Africa) - Supplementary Material
Brill Online
2018
habitat transformation
mountains
phylogeography
protected areas
refugia
species distribution models
Biogeography and Phylogeography
Evolutionary Biology
Molecular Evolution
Population, Ecological and Evolutionary Genetics
2018-02-06 13:51:00
Journal contribution
https://brill.figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Chasing_the_phantom_biogeography_and_conservation_of_Vipera_latastei-monticola_in_the_Maghreb_North_Africa_-_Supplementary_Material/5858070
<p>The Maghreb region
(North Africa) constitutes a major component of the Mediterranean Basin
biodiversity hotspot. During the last centuries, a consistent human population growth
has led to an unprecedented rate of habitat transformation and loss in the
region and thus, threatening its biodiversity. The
Western Mediterranean viper <i>Vipera
latastei-monticola</i> inhabits humid and subhumid areas in the main mountain
ranges of the Maghreb, facing such threatening factors; however, its elusive character and rarity hindered data collection for distinct biological purposes. Here, we study the biogeographical patterns and
conservation status of<i> </i>the Maghrebian
<i>V. latastei-monticola</i> resulting from
recent sampling campaigns in Morocco and Tunisia. We update species
distribution, and integrate phylogeographic and ecological niche modelling analyses
at both species and lineage level to identify suitable areas, and to evaluate the
impact of anthropogenic transformation and level of protection of their
suitable space. We identified four highly divergent mitochondrial lineages,
including a new lineage endemic to the Western High Atlas, with allopatric distributions
and restricted to mountain ranges, supporting the role of mountains as past climatic
refugia. Despite the remoteness of suitable areas, we report widespread habitat
degradation and identify the low effectiveness of the current protected areas
system in preserving the species and lineages range. Our study shows the urgent
need to apply management actions for the long-term conservation of this
vulnerable species and suggests a revaluation of the specific status of <i>V. monticola</i>, as these populations
likely represent an ecotype of <i>V.
latastei.</i></p>