Informace o publikaci
Towards integrative taxonomy of desert gerbils (Gerbillus)
| Autoři | |
|---|---|
| Rok publikování | 2025 |
| Druh | Další prezentace na konferencích |
| Citace | |
| Popis | Reconstruction of evolutionary history to inform conservation activities requires resolution of the subject's taxonomical position and knowledge of its geographic distribution. However, many desert taxa are knowledge-deficient. The genus Gerbillus faces taxonomic challenges, as well as difficulties in species identification using traditional morphological and genetic tools. To contribute to the resolution of taxonomic and distribution problems within the genus, we compiled a dataset of the most commonly used mitochondrial marker, CYTB, from various sources. The gathered data were sorted by quality, duplications and pseudogenes. The final database included 1045 sequences, which were divided into OTUs ("operational taxonomic units") based on the tree analysis. We used the most up-to-date taxonomy knowledge to suggest reliable names for revealed OTUs. Based on sorted high-quality sequences, we conclude that the taxonomy is highly complex. Many species may need synonymising, especially those known only from the holotypes, while others, with high genetic diversity, such as G. nigeriae, may require splitting. Additionally, a new East African subgenus is awaiting description and the delimitation of its species. The application of new tools is advancing the resolution of many taxonomic issues; however, further work is needed to resolve relatedness among remote populations. |