Molecular biogeography: towards an integrated framework for conserving pan-African biodiversity.
BACKGROUND:Biogeographic models partition ecologically similar species assemblages into discrete ecoregions. However, the history, relationship and interactions between these regions and their assemblages have rarely been explored. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS:Here we develop a taxon-based approac...
Main Authors: | , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2007-05-01
|
Series: | PLoS ONE |
Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0000454 |
id |
doaj-53a653c5e1044c20a2e53f1b1162efae |
---|---|
record_format |
Article |
spelling |
doaj-53a653c5e1044c20a2e53f1b1162efae2021-03-03T19:55:56ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032007-05-0125e45410.1371/journal.pone.0000454Molecular biogeography: towards an integrated framework for conserving pan-African biodiversity.Yoshan MoodleyMichael W BrufordBACKGROUND:Biogeographic models partition ecologically similar species assemblages into discrete ecoregions. However, the history, relationship and interactions between these regions and their assemblages have rarely been explored. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS:Here we develop a taxon-based approach that explicitly utilises molecular information to compare ecoregion history and status, which we exemplify using a continentally distributed mammalian species: the African bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus). We reveal unprecedented levels of genetic diversity and structure in this species and show that ecoregion biogeographic history better explains the distribution of molecular variation than phenotypic similarity or geography. We extend these data to explore ecoregion connectivity, identify core habitats and infer ecological affinities from them. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE:This analysis defines 28 key biogeographic regions for sub-Saharan Africa, and provides a valuable framework for the incorporation of genetic and biogeographic information into a more widely applicable model for the conservation of continental biodiversity.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0000454 |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Yoshan Moodley Michael W Bruford |
spellingShingle |
Yoshan Moodley Michael W Bruford Molecular biogeography: towards an integrated framework for conserving pan-African biodiversity. PLoS ONE |
author_facet |
Yoshan Moodley Michael W Bruford |
author_sort |
Yoshan Moodley |
title |
Molecular biogeography: towards an integrated framework for conserving pan-African biodiversity. |
title_short |
Molecular biogeography: towards an integrated framework for conserving pan-African biodiversity. |
title_full |
Molecular biogeography: towards an integrated framework for conserving pan-African biodiversity. |
title_fullStr |
Molecular biogeography: towards an integrated framework for conserving pan-African biodiversity. |
title_full_unstemmed |
Molecular biogeography: towards an integrated framework for conserving pan-African biodiversity. |
title_sort |
molecular biogeography: towards an integrated framework for conserving pan-african biodiversity. |
publisher |
Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
series |
PLoS ONE |
issn |
1932-6203 |
publishDate |
2007-05-01 |
description |
BACKGROUND:Biogeographic models partition ecologically similar species assemblages into discrete ecoregions. However, the history, relationship and interactions between these regions and their assemblages have rarely been explored. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS:Here we develop a taxon-based approach that explicitly utilises molecular information to compare ecoregion history and status, which we exemplify using a continentally distributed mammalian species: the African bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus). We reveal unprecedented levels of genetic diversity and structure in this species and show that ecoregion biogeographic history better explains the distribution of molecular variation than phenotypic similarity or geography. We extend these data to explore ecoregion connectivity, identify core habitats and infer ecological affinities from them. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE:This analysis defines 28 key biogeographic regions for sub-Saharan Africa, and provides a valuable framework for the incorporation of genetic and biogeographic information into a more widely applicable model for the conservation of continental biodiversity. |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0000454 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT yoshanmoodley molecularbiogeographytowardsanintegratedframeworkforconservingpanafricanbiodiversity AT michaelwbruford molecularbiogeographytowardsanintegratedframeworkforconservingpanafricanbiodiversity |
_version_ |
1714824926761844736 |