To date, there is little evidence that phylogenetic diversity has contributed to nature
conservation. Here, we discuss the scientific justification of using phylogenetic diversity in …

Research in Macaronesia has led to substantial advances in ecology, evolution and
conservation biology. We review the scientific developments achieved in this region, and …

Motivation: Sequence-based methods to delimit species are central to DNA taxonomy,
microbial community surveys and DNA metabarcoding studies. Current approaches either …

Molecular-based divergence dating methods, or molecular clocks, are the primary
neontological tool for estimating the temporal origins of clades. While the appropriate use of …

The genus Hemidactylus is one of the most species-rich and widely distributed of all reptile
genera, being found in thetropical and subtropical regions of the world and hundreds of …

Background Understanding causes of biological diversity may be greatly enhanced by
knowledge of divergence times. Strict and relaxed clock models are used in Bayesian …

Acanthodactylus lizards are among the most diverse and widespread diurnal reptiles in the
arid regions spanning from North Africa across to western India. Acanthodactylus constitutes …

Seed dispersal effectiveness (SDE) is the contribution of dispersers to plant recruitment and
is estimated as the product of the number of seeds dispersed (quantity) and the probability of …

Oceanic islands remained free of humans until relatively recent times. On contact, humans
encountered pristine environments with unique ecosystems and species highly vulnerable …

Background The evolutionary history of the biota of North Africa and Arabia is inextricably
tied to the complex geological and climatic evolution that gave rise to the prevalent deserts …