Conservation Genetics,
Population Genetics &
Phylogeography
Additional information on specific projects is available below
Check here our project on the phylogeography of colour variation in Panther Chameleons (F. pardalis) from Madagscar.
Check here our project on the captive breeding program & management of natural populations of this endemic Jamaican snake
Check here our work on the population genetics, phylogeography, & management of captive-breeding programs of these fascinating endemic reptiles
Check here our work on the population genetics & phylogeography of these large endemic lizard
Check here our work on the management of wild & captive populations of the largest extant lizard species
Check here our work on the conservation genetics of dusky dolphins & Burmeister’s porpoises
IN-SILICO (computer) simulations
Check here our simulations of large mammal populations using individual-based stochastic models
Check here our work on laboratory-controlled populations of nematods
It is indisputable that environmental changes, including major climatic events and human disturbances, have a striking impact on the biodiversity of ecosystems. However, understanding the mechanisms that affect and influence the evolution of biodiversity is not a simple task. We approach the problem at the level of model organisms’ genomes. We attempt to describe the genetic diversity variations (in time and space) caused by natural history (e.g., social systems), genetic (e.g., mitochondrial vs. nuclear DNA), but also historical (e.g., environmental changes and human exploitation) parameters. Given their predictive value, the results of these endeavours can significantly contribute, among others, to environment policy decisions. Several of our analyses have lead to practical recommendations for natural or captive population management (South-American dolphins, Galápagos giant tortoises, Galápagos land iguanas, Jamaican boas …). Check the left column of this web page for additional information.
Analyses of molecular data
By integrating phylogenetic, coalescence, and population genetic approaches, we investigate in several natural populations of (mostly vertebrate) species, the influence of historical factors on the present stratification and levels of genetic diversity. We use multiple molecular markers including microsatellites and SNPs. Furthermore, when gene flow remains low, intra-specific genealogical lineages can be investigated through phylogenetic methods and their diversity correlated to their geographic distribution (= phylogeographic approach). We will concentrate our efforts in the near future on populations of South-American dolphins as well as on large reptile species (such as the Galápagos giant tortoises, Galápagos land iguanas, Jamaican boas, and Komodo dragons).
In-silico and in-vitro simulations
Beside gathering and analyzing new molecular markers in natural populations, we also use population models in computer simulation studies. This approach allows investigating the influence of any combination of relevant parameters on the dynamic of population structure and diversity. The predictions made during simulation studies can then be validated with real data from natural populations. Furthermore, using Caenorhabditis remanei as an eukaryotic model, we have developed in vitro simulations of population events for testing the efficiency and accuracy of existing analytical methods for the inference of population size variation, levels of gene flow, and fragmentation events.
Selected publications
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✓Tiedemann R. & M. C. Milinkovitch
Culture and Genetic Evolution in Whales
Science, 284: 2055a (1999) -
✓Milinkovitch M.C., Monteyne D., Gibbs J.P., Fritts T.H., Tapia W., Snell H.L., Tiedemann R., Caccone A. & J. R. Powell
Genetic analysis of a successful repatriation program: Giant Galápagos tortoises
Proceedings of the Royal Society, London, B, 271: 341-345 (2004) -
Check also the “News Feature” in Nature (2004, vol. 429: pages 498-500) “One of a kind” by H. Nicholls
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✓Cassens I., Van Waerebeek K., Best P.B., Tzika A., Van Helden A.L., Crespo E.A. & M. C. Milinkovitch
Evidence for male dispersal along the coasts but no migration in pelagic waters in dusky dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obscurus)
Molecular Ecology, 14 : 107-121 (2005) -
✓Tzika A. C., Koenig S., Miller R., Garcia G., Remy C. & M. C. Milinkovitch
Population structure of an endemic vulnerable species, the Jamaican boa (Epicrates subflavus)
Molecular Ecology 17, 533-544 (2008) -
✓Tzika A. C., Rosa S. F. P., Snell H. L., Snell H. M., Marquez C., Tapia W., Rassmann K., Gentile G.,
& M. C. Milinkovitch
Population genetics of Galápagos land iguana (genus Conolophus) remnant populations
Molecular Ecology 17, 4943–4952 (2008) -
✓Mardulyn P., Cassens I. & M. C. Milinkovitch
A comparison of methods for constructing evolutionary networks from intraspecific DNA sequence
Pages 104-120 (Chapter 5) in ‘Population Genetics for Animal Conservation’ (Bertorelle G, Bruford M.W.,
Hauffe H.C., Rizzoli A., & Vernesi C., eds.),
Cambridge University Press 2009 -
✓Tzika A.C., D’Amico E., Alfaro-Shigueto J., Mangel J.C., Van Waerebeek K. & M.C. Milinkovitch
Molecular identification of small cetacean samples from Peruvian fish markets
Conservation Genetics 11: 2207-2218 (2010) -
✓Grbic D., Saenko S.V., Randriamoria T.M., Debry A., Raselimanana A.P. & M.C. Milinkovitch.
Phylogeography and Support Vector Machine Classification of Colour Variation in Panther Chameleons
Molecular Ecology (2015) -
Additional File 1 (Additional Discussion, Tables S1-S4, Figs. S1-S6). -
Coverage
