Masters Degrees (Botany and Zoology)

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Browsing Masters Degrees (Botany and Zoology) by Subject "Afroedura nivaria (Reptilia: Gekkonidae) -- Phylogenetic analysis"

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    Phylogenetic and morphological analysis of the Afroedura nivaria (Reptilia: Gekkonidae) species complex in South Africa
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2013-03) Makhubo, Buyisile Getrude; Tolley, K. A.; Mouton, P. le F. N.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Science. Dept. of Botany and Zoology.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Afroedura nivaria complex is one of the six recognized species complexes within a southern African endemic genus, Afroedura. The A. nivaria complex is a morphologically conservative group of medium-sized geckos endemic to South Africa though they are unevenly distributed in the Eastern Cape, Free State and KwaZulu-Natal provinces. The complex comprises the following five species: A. nivaria (Boulenger 1894), A. amatolica (Hewitt 1925), A. karroica (Hewitt 1925), A. tembulica (Hewitt 1926) and A. halli (Hewitt 1935). These nocturnal and rupicolous geckos shelter in narrow rock crevices on outcrops. It is currently unknown whether a) the described species are valid and b) if additional lineages are present on isolated outcrops. I investigated the hypothesis that endemics with a narrow distribution, that is, A. amatolica and A. tembulica are valid species but that isolated populations in the widespread species (A. nivaria, A. karroica and A. halli) demonstrate genetic variation at the species level. Fragments of two mitochondrial genes (16S rRNA and ND4) and a single nuclear marker (KIAA) were sequenced and analysed using Bayesian inference, maximum parsimony and maximum likelihood. All analyses strongly supported the genetic distinctiveness of the described species. The A. nivaria complex is not monophyletic, A. karroica appeared to be outside the species complex and A. pondolia (thought to be outside the A. nivaria complex) consistently nested within A. nivaria complex. Additional clades recovered in the phylogeny within A. halli and A. nivaria had large genetic divergences and no spatial overlap. Narrowly distributed A. amatolica showed to have two highly diverged clades. Clades recovered in the phylogeny highlight geographical structuring. These findings suggest the existence of up to four additional cryptic lineages within the complex. I used morphometric data (ecologically relevant morphological traits) to investigate whether the genetic lineages would present morphological conservatism. Multivariate analyses of 19 variables showed variation within the A. nivaria species complex was accounted for mostly by differences in locomotor apparatus (limbs and feet) and head dimensions. These traits are mostly related to microhabitat usage and/or dietary specialization in lizards. There were no significant differences for body dimensions between species within the complex, indicative of morphological conservatism. It appears genetic divergence has been achieved among the different clades within A. nivaria complex, but with much similarity in phenotype being retained because of fragmented but similar habitats occupied.