#173043 Diversity of amphibians and reptiles in the Balkans: evolutionary aspects and conservation

The amphibians and reptiles of the Balkan Peninsula included in the scope of the proposed research represent a "natural laboratory" and excellent model-system for both evolutionary and conservation studies. These vertebrates are characterised by low dispersal abilities and mostly strict ecological requirements, resulting in high evolutionary differentiation and intraspecific variation in their morphology, genetics, life history and ecology. The specificity of the Balkans with its complex paleogeographic history, heterogeneous landscapes, topographic diversity and climatic variation, resulted in a complex picture of amphibian and reptile diversity. Moreover, the Balkans are the origin of numerous taxa, an area of high endemicity, high rate of allopatric and parapatric speciation, and numerous hybridization zones. By combining data from natural populations and experimental studies, we propose to examine the following issues in evolutionary biology: (1) the evolution of complex morphological entities, (2) the evolution of life-history traits, (3) phylogeographic patterns of evolutionary lineages, and (4) the relation between eco-geographical and environmental variables as a function of the distribution of species, phylogenetic lineages and hybrid zones. Conservation research studies will be related to the recognition of evolutionary significant units, and to population ecology studies as a basis for further conservation strategies of autochthonous populations and species.

Project team:

Dr. Milena Cvijanović, project leader

Dr. Tanja Vukov

Dr. Nataša Tomašević Kolarov

Dr. Aleksandar Urošević

Dr. Marko Anđelković

Dr. Maja Ajduković

Marko Mirč
Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade:
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Tijana Vučić

Margareta Lakučić

Address

Bulevar despota Stefana 142
11108 Belgrade
Serbia

Contact

Telefon: +381 11 20 78 300
Fax: +381 11 27 61 433
Email: ibiss@ibiss.bg.ac.rs

futer excellent