Abstract:
Identification of intraspecific conservation units and incorporating the distribution of genetic diversity into management plans are crucial requirements for assessing effective protection strategies. The first part of this study investigates the phylogeographic structures of 33 bat species present in the Near East in order to evaluate the conservation implications of their intraspecific genetic diversity. The management requirements of the identified clades and their taxonomical relations were evaluated by analysing their distributions and the levels of their genetic differentiations in mtDNA markers. In 12 species and the large Myotis complex, a total of 15 genetically distinct populations were identified. Comparing the phylogeographic patterns of different taxa indicates that three regions, the Balkans, the Caucasus, and the southern Anatolia, harbour genetically divergent populations and should have higher priority in conservation practices. In the second part, the response of the Pipistrellus kuhlii lineages to climate change was evaluated by analysing their phylogeographical patterns in association to ecological niche models (ENM). The results show that the P. kuhlii clades evolved in separate Pleistocene refugia located in Iberia, the North Africa, and the Middle East, and subsequently colonized Europe. These clades differ on mtDNA and microsatellites, though, are not reproductively isolated. Comparing both the current and the past predictions of ENMs with the observed genetic diversity indicate that the clades had distinct niche identities and should be analysed separately. Apparently, these differences are conserved for long periods of time and will likely to affect their response to current climate change. Nevertheless, we show that the future predictions of the ‘clade only’ models are consistent with the currently observed population expansions. Considering that Turkey has one of the richest bat fauna in the Mediterranean region and the Anatolian populations of various species are genetically distinct, protecting populations in Turkey is critically important for preserving the genetic diversity of the bats in the Western Palaearctic. Both regional and large-scale conservation strategies should incorporate potential differences in climate tolerance among lineages.
