Range-wide MtDNA Phylogeography Yields Insights Into The Origins Of Asian Elephants

Main Category: Veterinary
Also Included In: Biology / Biochemistry;  Genetics
Article Date: 21 Nov 2008 - 1:00 PDT

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We analyse endangered Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) across their range to explain the unusual coexistence of ancient maternal genetic lineages.

Such coexistence could result from hybridization between ancestral species, or population isolation and subsequent contact naturally or through trade. Estimating ages of lineages, inferring areas of origin, and examining fossil records, we find that both lineages probably originated in the ancestral species Elephas hysudricus, 1.6-2.1 million years ago, and diverged in different glacial refugia during the severe climatic oscillations of the past two million years.

Range expansions during warmer interglacial periods gave rise to the coexistence of today's divergent lineages.

Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences

Proceedings B is the Royal Society's flagship biological research journal, dedicated to the rapid publication and broad dissemination of high-quality research papers, reviews and comment and reply papers. The scope of journal is diverse and is especially strong in organismal biology.

Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences

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