ORCID Profile
0000-0003-2769-8464
Current Organisations
Western Australia Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions
,
Queensland University of Technology
Does something not look right? The information on this page has been harvested from data sources that may not be up to date. We continue to work with information providers to improve coverage and quality. To report an issue, use the Feedback Form.
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 18-01-2023
DOI: 10.1071/ZO22041
Abstract: Morphological and molecular studies have consistently suggested that Sminthopsis, as currently defined, is rendered paraphyletic by the kultarr (Antechinomys laniger). They have also suggested a sister relationship between the kultarr and the long-tailed dunnart. Based on DNA sequence data from multiple mitochondrial and nuclear gene loci we reassign the long-tailed dunnart (formerly Sminthopsis longicaudata) to Antechinomys. Although there is good evidence of genetic structure within the kultarr (A. laniger), it does not correspond to the two currently recognised subspecies, viz A. laniger laniger and A. l. spenceri. We conclude that Antechinomys consists of two species, A. laniger and A. longicaudatus, consistent with morphology. We suggest that the observed genetic and morphological variation within A. laniger merits a more thorough investigation of more s les from across its range to resolve the taxonomy.
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 31-05-2022
DOI: 10.1071/AM21031
Abstract: DNA sequencing of specimens of Pseudantechinus found on Australian Wildlife Conservancy’s Mornington Wildlife Sanctuary in the Kimberley region of Western Australia revealed the existence of two species, Ps. macdonnellensis and Ps. ningbing. This is the first record of Ps. macdonnellensis from the Kimberley.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 25-09-2022
DOI: 10.1111/MEC.16680
Abstract: Mammal declines across northern Australia are one of the major bio ersity loss events occurring globally. There has been no regional assessment of the implications of these species declines for genomic ersity. To address this, we conducted a species-wide assessment of genomic ersity in the northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus), an Endangered marsupial carnivore. We used next generation sequencing methods to genotype 10,191 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 352 in iduals from across a 3220-km length of the continent, investigating patterns of population genomic structure and ersity, and identifying loci showing signals of putative selection. We found strong heterogeneity in the distribution of genomic ersity across the continent, characterized by (i) biogeographical barriers driving hierarchical population structure through long-term isolation, and (ii) severe reductions in ersity resulting from population declines, exacerbated by the spread of introduced toxic cane toads (Rhinella marina). These results warn of a large ongoing loss of genomic ersity and associated adaptive capacity as mammals decline across northern Australia. Encouragingly, populations of the northern quoll established on toad-free islands by translocations appear to have maintained most of the initial genomic ersity after 16 years. By mapping patterns of genomic ersity within and among populations, and investigating these patterns in the context of population declines, we can provide conservation managers with data critical to informed decision-making. This includes the identification of populations that are candidates for genetic management, the importance of remnant island and insurance/translocated populations for the conservation of genetic ersity, and the characterization of putative evolutionarily significant units.
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 2017
DOI: 10.1071/ZO17059
Abstract: The status of Pseudantechinus roryi relative to its congeners has been determined from DNA sequences obtained from both nuclear and mitochondrial gene loci. Although all other recognised species of Pseudantechinus form reciprocally monophyletic lineages in phylogenetic analyses, in iduals identified in museum collections as Ps. roryi (including type specimens) were indistinguishable from those identified as Ps. macdonnellensis. Ps. roryi is thus considered to be a synonym of Ps. macdonnellensis. Neighbour-joining network analyses failed to reveal any clear biogeographic differences between populations of Ps. macdonnellensis other than some evidence of isolation by distance.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2022
Publisher: Magnolia Press
Date: 14-08-2023
DOI: 10.11646/ZOOTAXA.5330.1.1
Abstract: Many of Australia’s smaller marsupial species have been taxonomically described in just the past 50 years, and the Dasyuridae, a speciose family of carnivores, is known to harbour many cryptic taxa. Evidence from molecular studies is being increasingly utilised to help revise species boundaries and focus taxonomic efforts, and research over the past two decades has identified several undescribed genetic lineages within the dasyurid genus Planigale. Here, we describe two new species, Planigale kendricki sp. nov. (formerly known as ‘Planigale 1’) and P. tealei sp. nov. (formerly known as ‘Planigale sp. Mt Tom Price’). The two new species have broadly overlapping distributions in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. The new species are genetically distinct from each other and from all other members of the genus, at both mitochondrial and nuclear loci, and morphologically, in both external and craniodental characters. The new species are found in regional sympatry within the Pilbara but occupy different habitat types at local scales. This work makes a start at resolving the cryptic ersity within Planigale at a time when small mammals are continuing to decline throughout Australia.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 20-08-2020
Abstract: Historical population contraction and expansion events associated with Pleistocene climate change are important drivers of intraspecific population structure in Australian arid-zone species. We compared phylogeographic patterns among arid-adapted Dasyuridae (Sminthopsis and Planigale) with close phylogenetic relationships and similar ecological roles to investigate the drivers of phylogeographic structuring and the importance of historical refugia. We generated haplotype networks for two mitochondrial (control region and cytochrome b) and one nuclear (omega-globin) gene from s les distributed across each species range. We used ΦST to test for a genetic population structure associated with the four Pilbara subregions, and we used expansion statistics and Bayesian coalescent skyline analysis to test for signals of historical population expansion and the timing of such events. Significant population structure associated with the Pilbara and subregions was detected in the mitochondrial data for most species, but not with the nuclear data. Evidence of population expansion was detected for all species, and it likely began during the mid-late Pleistocene. The timing of population expansion suggests that these species responded favorably to the increased availability of arid habitats during the mid-late Pleistocene, which is when previously patchy habitats became more widespread. We interpret our results to indicate that the Pilbara region could have acted as a refugium for small dasyurids.
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 12-10-2022
DOI: 10.1071/AM22016
Abstract: The use of correct taxonomy to describe and name the earth’s bio ersity is fundamental to conservation and management. However, there are issues that need to be overcome to ensure that the described taxa and their scientific names are both appropriate and widely adopted. Obstacles to this include the use of different species definitions, taxonomic instability due to accumulation of additional specimens in analyses and the progression of science that allows better resolution of species boundaries, and the inappropriate description and naming of new taxa without adequate scientific basis in self-published journals (known as ‘taxonomic vandalism’). In an effort to manage taxonomic instability, the Australasian Mammal Taxonomy Consortium (AMTC), an affiliated body of the Australian Mammal Society, has developed several tools that include: (1) a standardised list of Australian mammal common and scientific names (2) recommendations for information that should be included in published species descriptions and (3) support for the publication of aspidonyms (i.e. a scientifically acceptable name proposed to overwrite a pre-existing unscientific name). This review discusses these issues, reaffirms the foundations for appropriate taxonomic research, and provides guidelines for those publishing taxonomic research on Australian mammals.
Location: Australia
No related grants have been discovered for Linette Umbrello.