Biology ETDs

Publication Date

Summer 5-31-2021

Abstract

In my dissertation, I used morphological, sanger sequencing and next-generation sequencing data sets to explore the evolutionary relationships and study cryptic diversity of a extant Neotropical myotine radiation. Using a integrative approach, I described a new species of Myotis from the montane and premontane forest of Panama, Costa Rica and Eastern Ecuador, refining our undestanding of the taxonomy and systematics of the Myotis pilosatibialis complex of bats. Then, using a single locus barcoding approach I explored genetic diversity partitioning across the Myotis radiation with a focus on Neotropical species, ilustrating the phylogenetic relationships of Neotropical species and exploring their species limits. Finally, a whole genome resequencing data set was used to resolve phylogenetic relationships, species groups and species limits. In addition I reconstructed biogeographic histories, estimated divergence times, and explored for admixture between species. Taken together, this dissertation show the power of combining diffferent data sets to study species diversity and evolutionary history in Neotropical Myotis

Project Sponsors

Fondo de Talento Humano and SENESCYT from the Republic of Ecuador

Language

English

Keywords

Myotis, Neotropics, phylogenomics, species diversity, biogeography, integrative taxonomy

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Biology

Level of Degree

Doctoral

Department Name

UNM Biology Department

First Committee Member (Chair)

Dr. Joseph Cook

Second Committee Member

Dr. Irene Salinas

Third Committee Member

Dr. James Degnan

Fourth Committee Member

Dr. Jason Malaney

Included in

Biology Commons

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