Speciation processes in two co-distributed freshwater turtle complexes in a hotspot of genetic diversity (Emys orbicularis complex; Mauremys caspica, M. rivulata)

异地物种形成的潜在过程将在海龟身上进行研究，海龟是一组能够进行广泛杂交的动物，即使是在遥远的相关类群中也是如此。为了更深入地了解物种形成是如何发生的这个问题，尽管有这种杂交的能力，我们计划利用多态微卫星和mtDNA序列变异来分析生殖隔离程度不同、分布范围相似和生态特征相似的两个物种复合体中的基因流，以解决以下问题：(1)两个共同分布的物种复合体是否表现出相同的分化、渐渗和基因流的一般模式？(2)距离隔离和地理障碍对形成遗传不连续的影响是什么？(3)遗传分化和导入模式与其他类群相比如何？在这两个模式系统中，线粒体和核基因组的模式是一致的还是冲突的？(5)尽管有相同的栖息地和相同或至少非常相似的选择力量，但它们的系统地理模式是一致的还是冲突的？

Processes underlying allopatric speciation will be studied in turtles, a group of animals capable of extensive hybridisation, even among distantly related taxa. To gain deeper insights in the question how speciation occurs despite this capability to hybridize, we plan to analyze gene flow in two species complexes with a different degree of reproductive isolation, with similar distribution ranges and similar ecological traits using polymorphic microsatellites and mtDNA sequence variation to address the following questions: (1) Do the two co-distributed species complexes show the same general patterns of differentiation, introgression, and gene flow? (2) What is the impact of isolation-by-distance and geographic barriers for the formation of genetic discontinuities? (3) How do the genetic differentiation and introgression patterns compare with other taxa? Are there any peculiarities in chelonians that might help to understand their extreme capability to hybridize? (4) Do mitochondrial and nuclear genomic patterns agree or conflict in each of the two model systems? (5) Are their phylogeographic patterns congruent or conflicting, despite shared habitats and identical or at least very similar selective forces?