Ecological divergence between two evolutionary lineages of Hyla savignyi (Audouin, 1827) in Turkey: effects of the Anatolian Diagonal

Abstract

Most of Turkey's land area is covered by one of three biodiversity hotspots (Caucasus, Irano-Anatolian, and Mediterranean). Anatolia is one of the main corridors for postglacial colonization of Europe. Uncovering how populations of a species differ genetically and ecologically is important for understanding evolutionary processes. Here, I examined ecological information to define ecological divergence between two lineages of Hyla savignyi. Using ecological niche modeling, I determined whether the two genetically divergent lineages of H. savignyi are geographically isolated and addressed the effect of the geographical distribution in the Anatolian Diagonal on the lineages. Separate analysis of the lineages showed no overlap of their predicted ranges based on climatic data of their respective habitats. This suggests that the lineages were formed as a result of range fragmentation during the Ice Age, and were consequently adapted to different climatic conditions.