Aim Mediterranean peninsulas typically harbour high intraspecific genetic diversity associated with long‐term persistence in multiple glacial refugia. However, some widespread taxa show unexpectedly shallow phylogeographic structure. Here, we investigate which historical processes can generate a pattern of strong genetic depletion within a classic southern European refugial region. Location Iberian Peninsula and southern Franc...

Herps, especially amphibians, are particularly susceptible to climate change, as temperature tightly controls many parameters of their biological cycle—above all, their phenology. The timing of herps’ activity or migration period—in particular the dates of their first appearance in spring and first breeding—and the shift to earlier dates in response to warming since the last quarter of the 20 th century has often been describe...

We used a multidisciplinary approach to infer the taxonomy and historical biogeography of H ierophis viridiflavus and H . gemonensis , performing molecular analyses of mitochondrial (16 S , C yt‐b, ND 4) and nuclear markers ( PRLR ), a landmark‐based morphometric study and a cytogenetic analysis. Our data distinguished three main groups in the studied species, corresponding to H . gemonensis and to two monophyletic clades ( E...

Using virtually range‐wide sampling for three pond turtle taxa ( Emys orbicularis galloitalica , E. o. hellenica , E. trinacris ), we analyse gene flow across their southern Italian contact zone. Based on population genetic analyses of 15 highly polymorphic microsatellite loci and a mitochondrial marker, we show that the general genetic pattern matches well with the current taxon delimitation. Yet, single individuals with conf...

Historical factors, current population size, population connectivity and selective processes at linked loci contribute to shaping contemporary patterns of neutral genetic diversity. It is now widely acknowledged that nuclear and mitochondrial markers react differently to current demography as well as to past history, so the use of both types of markers is often advocated to gain insight on both historical and contemporary proc...

Aim The aim of this study was to elucidate the phylogeographical pattern of taxa composing the Vipera ursinii complex, for which the taxonomic status and the dating of splitting events have been the subject of much debate. The objectives were to delimit potential refugia and to date splitting events in order to suggest a scenario that explains the diversification of this species complex. Location Western Europe to Central Asia...

Hermann's tortoise ( Testudo hermanni ), the best‐known western Palaearctic tortoise species, has a rare natural distribution pattern comprising the Mediterranean areas of the Iberian, Apennine, and Balkan Peninsulas, as well as Sicily, Corsica and Sardinia. The western part of this range is traditionally considered habitat for T. h. hermanni , while T. h. boettgeri occurs in the Balkans. Taxonomy of this tortoise has been cha...