Genetics - Theses
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ItemSystematics, phylogeography and population genetics of the large bent-wing bat, Miniopterus schreibersii (Chiroptera)(University of Melbourne, 2001)This thesis is a multi-faceted approach to consider the population and evolutionary genetics of the widely distributed Miniopterus schreibersii complex. The first section focuses on phylogeography. It investigates the monophyly of the M. schreibersii complex and the number of species present, using the mitochondrial gene ND2. These data reveal separate lineages within the M. schreibersii complex. The second section involves the Australian forms of Miniopterus. This section investigates the recognised taxonomy within Australia using molecular and morphological characters. Three distinct lineages are found to exist on this continent with only two of these previously known. These lineages are described as subspecies. This situation is discussed with references made to historical processes including migration events and vicariance. The third section focuses on the south-eastern Australian populations which include two of the three subspecies. This section incorporates both molecular and ecological information and investigates the pattern of gene flow and dispersal along with the processes of vicariance and philopatry. The final section investigates the patterns of distribution and genetic variation present in the bat parasites living on the southern Australian bat populations. These patterns mirror those described in the bats.