Ph.D. Theses
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Browsing Ph.D. Theses by Subject "Bats -- Turkey -- Geographical distribution."
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Item Contribution of Anatolian bats to genetic diversity of western palaearctic with a particular focus on Kuhl's pipistrelle(Thesis (Ph.D.) - Bogazici University. Institute of Environmental Sciences, 2014., 2014.) Çoraman, Emrah.; Furman, Andrzej.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.Item Phylogeography of the large mouse-eared bats in Turkish thrace and Anatolia(Thesis (Ph.D.) - Bogazici University. Institute of Environmental Sciences, 2020., 2020.) Çelik, Yalın Emek.; Furman, Andrzej.The main objective of this study is to determine the exact number of species/subspecies within the Large Mouse-eared Bat Complex that inhabit Anatolia and the Turkish Thrace. In this study we also explore the historical relationships among these taxa, and how their geographical distribution changed over time. Defining precise methods for identification of these species/subspecies in the field and in laboratory settings is among the aims of the study. We also focus on the discrepancy in the information acquired from the nuclear and mitochondrial DNA in terms of species identification and try to explain the processes that cause this discrepancy. The results of our study reveal that in the study area, there are two distinct species one of which is further divided into two evolutionarily significant units. Besides the previously accepted two taxa, there is a separate unit residing in Anatolia that is morphologically similar to the Myotis myotis in the west but genetically isolated from this ancestral population. We conclude that some of the alleged subspecies in previous studies do not exist, but Anatolia is occupied by a genetically isolated branch of the greater form that might be defined as a different species/subspecies with the previously suggested name, M. (m.) macrocephalicus. This study also highlights the importance of these findings that redefine the species distribution, with regard to conservation studies. A mathematical method including morphological measurements is also suggested for differentiation of these species in the field.Item The phylogeographic history, taxonomy and conservation of two cave-dwelling bat species : Miniopterus schreibersii and myotis capaccinii (Chiroptera: vespertilionidae)(Thesis (Ph.D.) - Bogazici University. Institute of Environmental Sciences, 2018., 2018.) Gürün, Kanat.; Bilgin, Raşit.Miniopterus schreibersii and Myotis capaccinii are two cave-dwelling bat species with subcosmopolitan distributions, which are well-suited for phylogeographic studies at large geographic scales. In this study, the social and genetic structure of Miniopterus schreibersii was investigated using nuclear microsatellite and mitochondrial DNA markers, and the taxonomy and phylogeography of Myotis capaccinii was examined using mitochondrial DNA data, using samples from the entire circum-Mediterranean range of these species. Local genetic structuring previously detected among populations of Miniopterus schreibersii using mitochondrial markers was not observed for microsatellite markers, indicating male-biased dispersal. Some support was found for the fifth paradigm of postglacial expansions in Europe, which states that Anatolia might have been a primary refugium during the last glacial maxima. Regarding Myotis capaccinii, all analyses revealed the existence of three haplogroups, B, C1 and C2. The divergence of haplogroup B from C haplogroups was dated to 350,000 years BP and divergence of C1 and C2 to 130,000 years BP, indicating isolation and differentiation during multiple glacial periods. Individuals from haplogroups B and C1 were found sympatrically in the same cave, suggesting they might represent distinct species. Similarly, the C1 – C2 divergence might indicate subspecific differentiation. However, analyses of nuclear markers and phenotypic characters are required to make further subspecific and specific recommendations. Species distribution models predicted a northward movement of potentially suitable areas for Myotis capaccinii in the near future due to climate change, thus the implementation of proper environmental measures is of utmost importance for the conservation of this species complex.