Runs of homozygosity (ROH) occur when offspring inherit haplotypes that are identical by descent from each parent. Length distributions of ROH are informative about population history; specifically, the probability of inbreeding mediated by mating system and/or population demography. Here, we investigated whether variation in killer whale ( Orcinus orca ) demographic history is reflected in genome‐wide heterozygosity and ROH l...

We investigate the effect of spatial range expansions on the evolution of fitness when beneficial and deleterious mutations cosegregate. We perform individual‐based simulations of 1 D and 2 D range expansions and complement them with analytical approximations for the evolution of mean fitness at the edge of the expansion. We find that deleterious mutations accumulate steadily on the wave front during range expansions, thus cre...

This study puts together genetic data and an approximate bayesian computation (ABC) approach to infer the time at which the tree Geoffroea spinosa colonized the Galápagos Islands. The genetic diversity and differentiation between Peru and Galápagos population samples, estimated using three chloroplast spacers and six microsatellite loci, reveal significant differences between two mainland regions separated by the Andes mountai...

Natural colonizations across watersheds have been frequently proposed to explain the present distributions of many freshwater fish species. However, detailed studies of such potential watershed crossings are still missing. Here, we investigated potential postglacial watershed crossings of the widely distributed European bullhead ( Cottus gobio L.) in two different areas along the Rhine–Rhône watershed using detailed genetic an...

Despite its often featureless appearance, the deep‐ocean floor includes some of the most diverse habitats on Earth. However, the accurate assessment of global deep‐sea diversity is impeded by a paucity of data on the geographical ranges of bottom‐dwelling species, particularly at the genetic level. Here, we present molecular evidence for exceptionally wide distribution of benthic foraminifera, which constitute the major part o...

Low levels of mitochondrial DNA variation were observed among pike Esox lucius populations from major drainage systems of Europe. Populations from the Italian peninsula including southern Switzerland were genetically distinct from other samples.

We present a new approach for defining groups of populations that are geographically homogeneous and maximally differentiated from each other. As a by‐product, it also leads to the identification of genetic barriers between these groups. The method is based on a simulated annealing procedure that aims to maximize the proportion of total genetic variance due to differences between groups of populations (spatial analysis of mole...

Because of their role in limiting gene flow, geographical barriers like mountains or seas often coincide with intraspecific genetic discontinuities. Although the Strait of Gibraltar represents such a potential barrier for both plants and animals, few studies have been conducted on its impact on gene flow. Here we test this effect on a bat species ( Myotis myotis ) which is apparently distributed on both sides of the strait. Si...