Phylogeography of the Koala, (Phascolarctos cinereus), and Harmonising Data to Inform Conservation.

ABSTRACT: The Australian continent exhibits complex biogeographic patterns but studies of the impacts of Pleistocene climatic oscillation on the mesic environments of the Southern Hemisphere are limited. The koala (Phascolarctos cinereus), one of Australia's most iconic species, was historically widely distributed throughout much of eastern Australia but currently represents a complex conservation challenge. To better understand the challenges to koala genetic health, we assessed the phylogeographic history of the koala. Variation in the maternally inherited mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) Control Region (CR) was examined in 662 koalas sampled throughout their distribution. In addition, koala CR haplotypes accessioned to Genbank were evaluated and consolidated. A total of 53 unique CR haplotypes have been

SUBMITTER: Neaves LE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5010259 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature