The Arabian Peninsula represents a bridge between three continents and two major zoogeographic regions, the Palearctic and Afrotropical (Ethiopian). It is well known for its richness and endemicity not only among geckos, but among squamate reptiles in general. Besides impressive endemic species located in the mountains, there are some, widely distributed across the entire Arabian Peninsula (pan-arabian distribution) and in terms of research they remain neglected. Among Arabian geckos, the genus Bunopus are an excellent example, whose systematics and taxonomy are quite problematic, albeit they are distributed across the entire peninsula. In order to answer the question of possible cryptic diversity of these geckos in the Arabian Peninsula, phylogenetic position of more than 80 samples covering the vast part of their distribution range has been reconstructed based on two mitochondrial (12S rRNA and COI) and two nuclear markers (RAG2 and c-mos). Haplotype networks were reconstructed from nuclear markers in order to show genealogical relationships. Results of the phylogenetic analyses presented herein show that cryptic diversity in the Arabian Peninsula is smaller in comparison to the one that was uncovered in the Iranian Plateau. Almost entire Arabian Peninsula is inhabited by two lineages only, which...

Phylogenetic relationships of 25 genera of Holarctic Teleiodini (Gelechiidae) are postulated based on morphology and molecular characters, including CO?I, CO?II, and 28S genes. The phylogenetic analysis of the morphology matrix yielded six equal most parsimonious trees (length 329 steps, CI = 0.38, RI = 0.53) and a strict consensus tree (length 342 steps, CI = 0.36, RI = 0.50) with two polytomies and two trichotomies. The phylogenetic analysis of the combined morphology matrix and the CO?I + CO?II + 28S matrix yielded two equally most parsimonious trees (length 1184 steps, CI = 0.50, RI = 0.41) and a strict consensus tree (length 1187 steps, CI = 0.50, RI = 0.40) that reinforced results from the morphological analysis and resolved the two polytomies and one of the two trichotomies present in the morphology consensus tree. Teleiodini are defined as a monophyletic clade with a Bremer support value greater than 5 in the consensus tree based on morphology and molecular data. Twenty?three clades of genera are defined with Bremer support values provided. An analyses of larval host plant preferences based on the consensus tree for combined data indicates derivation of feeding on woody hosts from genera feeding on herbaceous hosts and a single origin of feeding on coniferous hosts. An area cladogram indicates five independent origins of Nearctic genera from Holarctic ancestors and one origin from a Palearctic genus. The review of genera includes descriptions of imagos, genitalia, larvae, and pupae with illustrations of selected species. A new genus and a new species from Alabama and Mississippi, United States are described with illustrations of imago, wing venation, and male and female genitalia.

Afin de préciser la distribution et l'écologie des oiseaux migrateurs paléarctiques et afrotropicaux en Afrique de l’Ouest, neuf grands types d'habitats situés au Burkina Faso ont été suivi par points d'écoute de février 2004 à novembre 2005. Contrairement aux prédictions du paradoxe de Moreau, nous démontrons que les différentes zones de savanes jouent un rôle complémentaire au cours de l’hivernage pour les migrateurs paléarctiques, et que le Sahel ne constitue pas un lieu d’étape primordial lors de la migration pré-nuptiale. En outre, nous montrons que les migrateurs n’exploitent pas plus les habitats ouverts ou dégradés que les espèces résidentes au sein d’une même guilde, et que les migrateurs paléarctiques et afrotropicaux exploitent principalement des niches écologiques différentes, suggérant que la compétition interspécifique n’est pas le principal agent structurant les communautés de résidents et de migrateurs, au moins dans cette région de l'Afrique. Au vu de l’ensemble de nos résultats, nous proposons que les migrateurs paléarctiques sont partie intégrante des communautés tropicales et qu’il existe en réalité un continuum de stratégies entre la sédentarité et la migration entre deux aires biogéographiquement distinctes au sein des espèces tropicales. / In order to unravel the distribution and ecology of palearctic and afrotropical bird migrants in western Africa, we surveyed nine major habitat types in Burkina Faso by monthly point counts from February 2004 to November 2005. In contradiction with predictions drawn from Moreau's paradox, we found that the different savanna zones hold complementary sets of species during the course of the overwintering period, and that the Sahel is not used as a critical fattening area during pre-breeding migration. In addition, we show that migrant species are not tied to more open or degraded habitats in comparison with resident species of the same feeding guilds, and that palearctic and afrotropical migrant communities use widely divergent ecological niches, which suggests that current interspecific competition is not the prominent force shaping residents-migrants avian communities Overall, our results favour the view that both palearctic and afrotropical migrant species actually belong to tropical communities, and that a continuum exists between sedentary species and migratory species that reach distinct biogeographic areas during the course of their migration.

In this study the sexual and geographical variations in the genus Miniopterus were deeply investigated, using multidisciplinary analysis (morphometric cranial, dental, fenetic and shape analysis; molecular analysis of mt gene ND2). Different populations from western Palearctic and adjacent regions were analysed: Miniopterus schreibersii (Morocco, West Europe, Pannonia, Balkans, Crete, Near East, Middle East), Miniopterus natalensis (Yemen, Ethiopia) a Miniopterus inflatus (Ethiopia). Extensove samples of Miniopterus schreibersii were tested and existence of sexual dimorphism in cranial constitution was showed: males had generally bigger and relatively higher, shorter and narrower skulls than females; female mandibles were generally bigger than the male ones, females showed also more robust and larger teeth than males. On the other hand, males had markedly bigger canines and relatively higher P4 (in relation to other premolares). The sexes also deiffered in shape of P4 and upper molars. According to the interpopulation variation found, Miniopterus schreibersii samples from West Europe, Pannonia, Balkans, Crete, Sicily, Georgia, coastal Turkish and Moroccan areas belong most probably to the subspecies M. s. schreibersii (Kuhl, 1817). The samples from Afganistan, Iran, Azerbaijan, and from localities...

Declines in breeding populations of most migrants across much of the Palearctic have been linked to environmental conditions in their African non-breeding grounds. Studying winter distribution dynamics for these species is necessary to understand how factors in these areas may influence their overall population dynamics. This thesis explored in detail the distribution ecology of migrants in the Guinea savannah, the region from where wintering migrants currently show the greatest breeding population declines. In particular, I investigated some prevailing but hitherto little tested ecological hypothesis concerning impacts of geographical, vegetation and anthropogenic characteristics on the densities and winter distribution of migrants in Africa. Migrant distribution seemed to fit a pattern where decisions leading to winter habitat choice and association were hierarchical and jointly influenced by factors extrinsic and intrinsic to the habitats at large and finer scales respectively. Migrants were distributed in reasonable densities across a wide range of habitats. There was also evidence for an independent effect of latitude on densities and distribution, even after controlling for habitat characteristics. There was no evidence of large changes in latitudinal density patterns within a given winter season and site density patterns were generally consistent over the study duration. Migrants and taxonomically-related/ecologically similar Afrotropical residents showed similarities in habitat requirements and utilization, although migrants utilized habitats over a wider latitudinal range. Some migrants tended to show correspondence in site occurrence between consecutive winters but less so within a given winter season and there was an overall low transferability of habitat models for Palearctic migrants between sites in Nigeria. Collectively, the results describe distribution mechanisms typical for ecologically flexible species that can best be described as habitat generalists. As generalists, migrants are expected to show some resilience, especially in dealing with local and small scale changes on their wintering grounds such that these are unlikely to be the primary limiting factor in their population dynamics. However, the scale of ongoing habitat change across much of Africa is perhaps contributing to overcome the resilience engendered by their generalism. Conservation efforts for these mainly generalists species may therefore aim to preserve habitat on a large scale, perhaps through the promotion of sustainable land use practices.

Abstract Many waders are in decline, and the number of endangered species and populations is increasing. Their protection and management requires knowledge of both ecological and genetic state of the populations. In this thesis, I studied the distribution-wide genetic variation, structure and phylogeography of the Temminck’s Stint (Calidris temminckii) and Terek Sandpiper (Xenus cinereus) using microsatellites and sequence data from the mitochondrial control region and cytochrome oxidase I gene. I compared these regionally endangered species to other waders with varying evolutionary histories, breeding systems and habitat preferences to examine the levels of genetic variation and structure at different spatial scales. In addition, I studied the genetic structure of the endangered Baltic population of the Southern Dunlin (Calidris alpina schinzii) with microsatellites. I used genetic information in all three study species to determine units for conservation. The Temminck’s Stint and Terek Sandpiper, both not restricted to the Arctic, had low distribution-wide structuring. They also had quite low levels of variation when compared to other species breeding at similar latitudes, indicating reductions in population sizes during past climate changes. Especially the peripheral breeding populations were differentiated and showed signs of inbreeding and genetic drift when compared to the main range. The Temminck’s Stint populations at the Bothnian Bay and Yakutia, and Terek Sandpiper populations in Finland and Belarus, should be treated as separate management units. The broader interspecific comparison of waders suggests that habitat availability, mating system and the extent of philopatry may affect the genetic composition of species. The genetic analyses of the Southern Dunlin indicated strong effects of philopatry and inbreeding throughout the range. Local subpopulations at the Bothnian Bay and in Sweden need to be considered as separate management units. Management efforts at the Baltic should be focused on increasing connectivity and providing large enough breeding habitats for potential immigrants and recruits. / Tiivistelmä Useat kahlaajapopulaatiot ovat pienentyneet ja uhanalaistuneet maailmanlaajuisesti. Lajien ja populaatioiden ekologiaa ja genetiikkaa on tunnettava, jotta suojelutoimia voidaan kohdistaa oikein. Tutkin väitöskirjassani lapinsirrin (Calidris temminckii) ja rantakurvin (Xenus cinereus) geneettistä rakennetta, muuntelua ja fylogeografiaa levinneisyysalueen laajuisesti mikrosatelliittien ja mitokondrion kontrollialueen ja sytokromioksidaasi I -geenin sekvenssien avulla. Tutkin, mitkä tekijät vaikuttavat geneettisen rakenteeseen ja muunteluun vertaamalla näitä lajeja muihin kahlaajiin, joilla on erilaisia lisääntymisstrategioita, jotka pesivät vaihtelevissa ympäristöissä ja joista monet eroavat toisistaan myös fylogeografialtaan. Lisäksi tutkin Itämeren rannalla pesivän etelänsuosirrin (Calidris alpina schinzii) geneettistä populaatiorakennetta mikrosatelliittien avulla. Käytin geneettistä tietoa hyväksi luonnonsuojeluyksikköjen määrittämisessä kaikille kolmelle tutkimuslajilleni. Lapinsirrin ja rantakurvin fylogeografinen historia oli samankaltainen. Geneettisen muuntelun määrä oli vähäisempää verrattuna muihin, samankaltaisissa ympäristöissä pesiviin kahlaajiin. Molemmat lajit ovat todennäköisesti kärsineet historiallisten ilmaston-muutosten aiheuttamasta populaatioiden pienenemisestä. Erityisesti levinneisyysalueen reunoilla pesivät populaatiot olivat erilaistuneita, ja niissä näkyi sukusiitoksen ja geneettisen satunnaisajautumisen merkkejä. Perämeren ja Jakutian lapinsirri- sekä Valko-Venäjän ja Suomen rantakurvipopulaatioita tulee kohdella erillisinä suojeluyksiköinään. Vertailu muihin kahlaajiin osoitti, että niin pesimä- ja talvehtimisalueiden laajuus kuin lisääntymisstrategiat ja paikkauskollisuus voivat vaikuttaa lajien geneettiseen koostumukseen. Etelänsuosirrin geneettiset analyysit paljastivat merkkejä sukusiitoksesta, joita paikkauskollisuus ja populaatioiden pienuus ovat voimistaneet. Perämeren ja Ruotsin populaatioita tulee kohdella erillisinä suojeluyksiköinään. Suojelutoimet on kohdistettava tarpeeksi suurien, hyvälaatuisten pesimäpaikkaverkostojen ylläpitämiseen.