Geographic distribution patterns and status assessment of threatened plants in China

Large scale heterogeneous distribution of biodiversity has become a hot topic for ecologists and conservationists. A threat status assessment combined with geographic distribution patterns of threatened plants in China has been conducted at a national scale in this study based upon a distribution database that refers to both specimen records and published references. Currently, 302 threatened plant species are cataloged in the “National Protected Key Wild Plants” in China belonging to 92 families and 194 genera. Results of the assessment according to the Categories and Criteria system of The World Conservation Union (IUCN) Red List indicate that three species have been assessed as Extinct in Wild (EW) while a further 79, 99 and 112 species have been assessed as Critically Endangered (CR), Endangered (EN), and Vulnerable (VU), respectively. Distribution patterns of threatened plants were analyzed with GIS to identify areas of high species diversity. It was found that threatened plant species occur unevenly within counties and are concentrated in the following eight hotspots: the central and southern Hengduanshan mountain area; the southeast regions of Yunnan as well as Xishuangbanna and southwestern Guangxi; the southern Hainan island; the border mountainous regions of Guizhou, Hunan and Guangxi provinces; the mountainous regions of southwestern Hubei and northern Hunan; southwestern Zhejiang and western Fujian; central Sichuan and southern Gansu; and the western mountains of Guangdong. Moreover, the 12 counties with the greatest number of threatened plant species represent cumulatively more than 50% of the total listed species and, therefore, are the regions in China that should be prioritized for conservation efforts. By overlapping the map of threatened plant species with the distribution of national nature reserves, a gap was identified in protected areas. This research will ultimately provide insights for prioritizing biodiversity conservation as well as processing the mechanisms of distribution patterns.     

Geographic variation of the Greater white-toothed shrew (Crocidura russula Hermann, 1780 Mammalia, Soricidae)

A multivariate morphometric study of the Greater white-toothed shrew ( C. russula ) throughout its Palearctic range was carried out to search for patterns of geographic variation within the species boundary. Burnaby's and multiple group principal component analysis allowed the adjustment of raw data with respect to within-sample allometric variation. Multivariate 'size-free'results show a stepped cline with the phenotypical trait reduction and shape change from the eastern to the western Maghreb. Pleistocene fossil mandibles proved to have low phenetic distances with eastern populations (Tunisia, east Algeria) and it is argued that their character set is the primitive condition. The ancestral Mid-Pleistocene shrews lived in a relatively more humid climate. Geo-climatic changes in the north African range during the Quaternary provoked phenetic variation of C. russula and, it can be argued, evolution of the modern western C.r. yebalensis. A historical process can thus be assumed as the main cause of this categorical variation, by segmentation of the species range due to geo-climatic events. Morphometric discontinuity within the C. russula Maghreb range is shown to be congruent with karyological and biochemical studies. Moroccan and Tunisian shrews differ, for example, in NFa chromosomes and electrophoretical traits. A stasipatric process should be invoked to explain categorical variation in the Maghreb range. Colonization and divergence of insular populations results in more or less differentiated geographic races. The populations of Ibiza and Pantelleria are close to the species threshold (Nei's D ≥ 0.1). The process of speciation undergone by the Greater white-toothed shrew results in a complex pattern of geographic variation, including both allopatric and non-allopatric modes.     

Latitudinal, habitat and substrate distribution patterns of freshwater ascomycetes in the Florida Peninsula

Freshwater ascomycetes are important decomposers of dead woody and herbaceous debris in aquatic habitats. Despite evidence of their ecological importance, latitudinal, habitat and substrate distributional patterns of freshwater ascomycetes are poorly understood. In this study, we examined the latitudinal and habitat distributional patterns, and substrate recurrences of freshwater ascomycetes by collecting dead submerged woody and herbaceous debris in lentic and lotic habitats at five selected sites along a north-central-south, temperate–subtropical latitudinal ecotone in Florida. One hundred and thirty-two fungal taxa were collected during the study. Seventy-four were meiosporic and 56 were mitosporic ascomycetes, while two species were basidiomycetes. Canonical analyses of principal coordinates (CAP) and Sørenson’s similarity index of species based on presence/absence data revealed a high turnover in species composition between the northern and southern sites, indicating a change in species composition along the temperate–subtropical latitudinal ecotone of the Florida Peninsula. Results from the ordination analysis indicated that freshwater ascomycete community composition is not significantly different between lentic and lotic habitats in Florida. The geographically broadly distributed species and species commonly found in Florida occurred in both habitats, whereas a number of new or rare species occurred in either lentic or lotic habitats, but not both. The same freshwater ascomycete species did not necessarily occur on both woody and herbaceous debris; of the 132 taxa collected, 100 were reported only on woody debris; 14 species occurred exclusively on herbaceous debris; and 18 species were found on both woody and herbaceous debris in lentic or lotic habitats. Implications of data from this study to the conservation and knowledge of biodiversity for freshwater ascomycetes is discussed.     

Regional enrichment of predacious water beetles in temporary ponds at opposite east–west ends of the Palearctic

Regional and local species richness of temporary pond dytiscid water beetles were compared among three regions within the Palearctic: (1) Sweden in north west Europe, (2) Primorye and (3) Sakhalin Island in the Russian Far East. Both local and regional species richness were highest in Sweden and lowest in Sakhalin. Regional species richness was calculated from literature and collecting data for each region and for nested parts of regions. Local species richness was estimated from standardized net samples from fourteen or fifteen ponds in each region. Two different rarefaction techniques applied to the net-sample data confirmed the observed interregional differences in species richness. Partial least square regression showed that pond area, depth and temperature affected local species richness positively in each region, whereas increasing shade and drought frequency had negative effects. Residuals from the regression analysis were positive in Sweden, negative in Sakhalin, and near zero in Primorye ponds. Consequently, the local species richness was related positively to regional species richness also when compensated for differences in the local pond environment. This was verified when pond species richness of each region was correlated with principal component scores representing a combination of pond area, depth and temperature. The species' distributions among ponds displayed significantly nested patterns in Sweden and Sakhalin. However, species were significantly sorted along the pond area gradient only in Sweden. It is concluded that the observed interregional differences in local species richness are best explained by the accompanying gradient in regional species richness, lending support to the hypothesis of regional enrichment. Selected historical and ecological explanations for the observed differences in regional species richness are discussed.     

Coccolith distribution patterns in surface sediments of Equatorial and Southeastern Pacific Ocean

This study aims to contribute to a more detailed knowledge of the biogeography of coccolithophores in the Equatorial and Southeastern Pacific Ocean. Census data of fossil coccoliths are presented in a suite of core-top sediment samples from 15°N to 50.6°S and from 71°W to 93°W. Following standard preparation of smear slides, a total of 19 taxa are recognized in light microscopy and their relative abundances are determined for 134 surface sediment samples. Considering the multivariate character of oceanic conditions and their effects on phytoplankton, a Factor Analysis was performed and three factors were retained. Factor 1, dominated by Florisphaera profunda and Gephyrocapsa oceanica, includes samples located under warm water masses and indicates the occurrence of calcite dissolution in the water column in the area offshore Chile. Factor 2 is related to cold, low-salinity surface-water masses from the Chilean upwelling, and is dominated by Emiliania huxleyi, Gephyrocapsa sp. < 3 μm, Coccolithus pelagicus and Gephyrocapsa muellerae. Factor 3 is linked to more saline, coastal upwelling areas where Calcidiscus leptoporus and Helicosphaera carteri are the dominant species.     

Comparative phylogeographic patterns of several vertebrates in the east Palearctic

An overview of our own and literature molecular phylogenetic studies on intraspecies variability in widely distributed Asian fishes, amphibians, birds, and mammals is presented. In many cases, the populations from the southeastern parts of the species ranges demonstrate distinct sets of haplotypes and increased variability. This means that such populations might have experienced isolation in refuges and that eastern Asia might have served as a hotspot in the speciation process for many Asian animals.     

Evolution of mitochondrial relationships and biogeography of Palearctic green toads (Bufo viridis subgroup) with insights in their genomic plasticity

Taxa involving three bisexually reproducing ploidy levels make green toads a unique amphibian system. We put a cytogenetic dataset from Central Asia in a molecular framework and apply phylogenetic and demographic methods to data from the entire Palearctic range. We study the mitochondrial relationships of diploids to infer their phylogeography and the maternal ancestry of polyploids. Control regions (and tRNAs between ND1 and ND2 in representatives) characterize a deeply branched assemblage of twelve haplotype groups, diverged since the Lower Miocene. Polyploidy has evolved several times: Central Asian tetraploids (B. oblongus, B. pewzowi) have at least two maternal origins. Intriguingly, the mitochondrial ancestor of morphologically distinctive, sexually reproducing triploid taxa (B. pseudoraddei) from Karakoram and Hindukush represents a different lineage. We report another potential case of bisexual triploid toads (B. zugmayeri). Identical d-loops in diploids and tetraploids from Iran and Turkmenistan, which differ in morphology, karyotypes and calls, suggest multiple origins and retained polymorphism and/or hybridization. A similar system involves diploids, triploids and tetraploids from Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan where green toads exemplify vertebrate genomic plasticity. A new form from Sicily and its African sister species (B. boulengeri) allow internal calibration and divergence time estimates for major clades. The subgroup may have originated in Eurasia rather than Africa since the earliest diverged lineages (B. latastii, B. surdus) and earliest fossils occur in Asia. We delineate ranges, contact and hybrid zones. Phylogeography, including one of the first non-avian datasets from Central Asian high mountains, reflects Quaternary climate and glaciation.     

Altitudinal distribution patterns of Mexican cloud forests based upon preferential characteristic genera

Mexican cloud forest vegetation has been recorded in temperate humidconditions at rather different elevations ranging from 600 to 3000m. They are characterised by high biodiversity under continuousfoggy situations. Some authors state that many genera are quantitativelyimportant to depict cloud forest conditions. Detailed quantitative studiescomprising most of the localities of Mexican cloud forests to depict altidudinaldistribution ranges on basis of preferential genera have not been previouslyconducted. The aim of this study is (1) to recognise characteristic preferentialgenera of Mexican cloud forest conditions, and (2) to determine quantitativelythe current altitudinal distribution pattern of this vegetation type. From adatabase composed by 995 genera inhabiting in the Mexican cloud forests, sixgenera were chosen preliminary as preferential characteristics. These wereClethra, Magnolia, Meliosma, Styrax, Symplocos, andTernstroemia. These genera include 70 species that occur atover 70% of the current Mexican cloud forest fragments. The mean elevation ofthese genera records were 1853 m (±600 at 95% confidenceinterval). The results showed that Mexican cloud forests occur optimally between1250 and 2450 m. Additionally, Mexican cloud forest is the bestdistributed within some provinces of the Región Mesoamericana deMontaña, chiefly at Serranías Meridionales,Sierra Madre Oriental, and SerraníasTransístmicas. The results are discussed in light of theimportance of these regions as diversification centres.     

First phylogenetic analysis of the subfamily Pachydeminae (Coleoptera,Scarabaeoidea, Melolonthidae): the Palearctic Pachydeminae*

This paper presents the first phylogenetic analysis of Pachydeminae Reitter, 1902 ; one of the least known subfamilies of Melolonthidae, `leaf‐chafers' (Scarabaeoidea, Coleoptera). Some species of Pachydeminae have recently become agricultural pests in southern Spain. We analysed the phylogenetic relationships among 49 species belonging to 16 genera in the Palearctic region, based on a set of 63 morphological characters from the adult external morphology, wing anatomy, mouthparts and male and female genitalia. The last three sets of characters are described here for the first time. The phylogeny shows that the Palearctic Pachydeminae are monophyletic within the subfamily. Mouthparts and male and female genitalia provide the best synapomorphies for intergeneric relationships. In contrast, most of the external morphological characters used in the taxonomy of Pachydeminae are highly homoplastic. The phylogeny shows a basal split between the genera Hemictenius Reitter, 1897; Pachydema Castelnau, 1832, and the monospecific Peritryssus Reitter, 1918; and a second clade including the rest of genera. The remarkable Peritryssus is confirmed as a Pachydeminae, being the sister group to the monophyletic Hemictenius . Except for the position of P. rubripennis (Lucas, 1848) and P. zhora Normand, 1951, the phylogeny supports the monophyly of Pachydema but rejects the traditional division into species groups and the monophyly of the endemic Canarian species. In contrast, Tanyproctus Faldermann, 1835, must be rejected as polyphyletic. Otoclinius Brenske, 1896, is also probably polyphyletic (two new species synonymies), whereas Leptochristina Baraud and Branco, 1991 , is either mono‐ or paraphyletic. The two Mediterranean genera Ceramida Baraud, 1897, and Elaphocera Gené, 1836, form a monophyletic group, this clade being the best supported by the data set. Ceramida is clearly monophyletic, whereas Elaphocera is probably monophyletic except for E. barbara Rambur, 1843, which shares with Ceramida the character state for numerous mouthpart and genitalic characters. The phylogeny questions the generic status of the small and monospecific genera of Pachydeminae. The monotypic Alaia Petrovitz, 1980 , and Brenskiella Berg, 1898, are merged with Europtron Marseul, 1867, into one clade, whereas Atanyproctus Petrovitz, 1954, is grouped with some species of Tanyproctus , and the monotypic Pachydemocera Reitter, 1902 , is proposed as a junior synonym of Elaphocera .     

Scales of spatial patterns of distribution of intertidal invertebrates

Few comparative studies of spatial patterns at different scales have examined several species in the same habitat or the same species over a range of habitats. Therefore, variability in patterns among species or among habitats has seldom been documented. This study quantifies spatial patterns of a suite of intertidal snails and a species of barnacle using a range of statistical techniques. Variability in densities was quantified from the scale of adjacent quadrats (over a distance of centimeters) to tens of kilometers. Significant differences in abundances occurred primarily at two spatial scales. Small-scale differences were found at the scales of centimeters or 1–2 m and, for many species on many shores, these accounted for most of the variability in abundances from place to place. These are likely to be determined by behavioural responses to small-scale patches of microhabitat. Large-scale differences in abundance were also found in most species at the scale of hundreds of meters alongshore. These are likely to be due to variation in recruitment (and/or mortality) because of limited dispersal by adults of these species. There was little or no additional variation among shores, separated by tens of kilometers, than was shown among patches of shore separated by hundreds of meters. Identification of the scale(s) at which significant differences in abundance are found focus attention on the processes (and the scales at which these processes operate) that influence patterns of distribution and abundance. Some of the advantages and disadvantages of various procedures are discussed.     

Geographic distribution patterns of vertically transmitted endophytes in two native grasses in Argentina

The incidence of epichloid endophytes in populations of wild grasses is usually variable, and the knowledge about distribution patterns and how environmental factors affect such an incidence is limited. Here we performed a broad scale survey data to study whether the distribution patterns and the incidence of vertically-transmitted endophytes in populations of two native grasses from South-America, Poa lanuginosa Poir. and Poa bonariensis (Lam.) Kunth., are associated with environmental characteristics. We also characterized the endophytes from different populations to establish if the genotype of the endophytes is also correlated with environmental variables. The incidence of endophytes ranged from 0 to 100 % in both host species. In P. lanuginosa, endophytes were only found in populations on sandy coastal dunes and their incidence was positively associated with winter regime rainfall and soil water availability in the growing season. In P. bonariensis, endophytes were only found in populations in xerophytic forests and their incidence was highly associated with plant community. The distributions of infested populations suggested that the endophytes are not found in those areas with the most favorable or most stressing growth conditions accordingly to climatic or edaphical characteristics. Only the vertically transmitted hybrid endophyte species Neotyphodium tembladerae was detected in both host species. Under the hypothesis of vertical transmission, these results suggested that the endophyte should have been lost in endophyte free populations but is maintained in populations established in environments presenting moderate stress as salinity or short drought periods.     

Longitudinal patterns of plant diversity in the North American boreal forest

Spatial patterns of plant diversity in the North American boreal forest were examined according to three plant life forms (woody plants, herbaceous plants, and bryophytes) and two taxonomic levels (species and genus), using sixty 9-ha plots sampled in white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) and black spruce (Picea mariana (P. Mill.) B.S.P.) ecosystems along a transcontinental transect from the Pacific coast eastwards to the Atlantic coast. The patterns of inventory diversity (represented by alpha diversity), differentiation diversity (represented by the similarity index, habitat-heterogeneity index, similarity decay rate, and length of the first axis in detrended correspondence analysis), and pattern diversity (represented by the mosaic diversity index) were assessed along the transect in both ecosystem types. At the stand level, central North America had the highest alpha diversity in terms of the number of species or genera, and western North America had a higher alpha diversity than eastern North America. At the continental scale, herbaceous plants had the highest beta diversity in terms of floristic change from the eastern to western North America, bryophytes had the lowest beta diversity, and woody plants were in the middle, regardless of ecosystem type and taxonomic level. Central North America had the lowest mosaic diversity across the boreal transect of North America. The white spruce ecosystems had a higher alpha diversity than the black spruce ecosystems regardless of plant life form, taxonomic level and geographic location. The white spruce ecosystems tended to have more bryophytes, less woody plants, and higher species:genus ratio than the black spruce ecosystems. In general, the white spruce and black spruce ecosystems shared the same patterns in diversity changes at different spatial scales, plant life forms, and taxonomic levels across the transect studied. The existing patterns of plant diversity in the North American boreal forest area resulted from a combination of ecological processes and spatial configuration.     

Phylogeographic patterns in widespread corvid birds

Intraspecific genetic diversity and phylogeography of Corvus corone was investigated using the mitochondrial (mt) control region as a molecular marker. A split into two distinct mt lineages was observed. One represents individuals from a wide geographic range spanning from England to the Russian Far East (Kamchatka), while the other one was found in the Primorye and Khabarovsk regions (southern parts of Russian Far East) as well as Japan. For comparison, we investigated several widespread Palearctic corvid taxa with respect to their phylogeographic patterns. A deep split into two lineages was revealed in five cases: Besides C. corone, within Corvus frugilegus, Pica pica, and between the species pairs Corvus monedula-Corvus dauuricus and Cyanopica cyanus-Cyanopica cooki. Although these taxa display a variety of distribution patterns, from disjunct, para/allopatric to continuous, the genetic pattern and level of divergence between clades is very similar. This implies that the differentiation started in about the same time range. In contrast, no differentiation into highly divergent lineages was detected in Corvus corax, Perisoreus infaustus, and Nucifraga caryocatactes. We try to explain the two phylogeographic patterns in corvid birds with ecological factors accompanying the changing climatic conditions during the Pleistocene. The deep genetic splits within several widely distributed Palearctic corvids are discussed with respect to taxonomic questions.     

Combining mitochondrial and nuclear evidences: a refined evolutionary history of Erebia medusa (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Satyrinae) in Central Europe based on the COI gene

We aim to infer a combined scenario for the evolution of the Woodland Ringlet, Erebia medusa, in Central Europe based on analyses of part of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxydase subunit I (COI) and a published allozyme data set. We sequenced 529 bp of COI for 158 butterflies from 32 populations from almost the entire western distribution range of the species. We applied population genetic [spatial analysis of molecular variance (samova )] and phylogeographical analyses as well as coalescence simulation to test if the published allozyme scenario supports or contradicts the observed haplotype distribution. We recorded 16 haplotypes of which four represent a total of 82%. samova grouped the 32 populations into four geographically coherent groups: (1) western Central Europe, (2) Central Europe, (3) eastern Central Europe and (iv) western Pannonia. Mismatch distribution analyses and haplotype networks are in coincidence with constant population growth and reveal a relatively shallow phylogeographical structure. We evaluated the level of discordance between population histories and gene trees using Slatkins s and the deep coalescence statistics based on our mtDNA data. These estimators decline the previously published allozyme scenario of survival in different extra‐Mediterranean refugia in Europe with an onset of differentiation at the beginning of the last ice age some 70 000 years ago. However, it supports a refined scenario if we assume an onset of vicariance driven differentiation in these refugia after the end of the middle Würm interstadials some 30 000 years ago. Therefore, the general evolutionary history of this species in Europe apparently is very recent. Most probably, areas adjoining the high mountain regions as Alps and northern Carpathians were of great importance for the late Würm glacial survival of species like Erebia medusa.     

Geographic variation in clutch and brood size of the Eagle OwlBubo bubo in the Western Palearctic

Summary In the western Palearctic, the clutch size of the Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo) is constant with latitude and longitude whereas the brood size decreases from south to north, a reverse trend compared to other Strigiforms. This tendency seems independent of the population density of Eagle Owls and the availability of prey with high food value and may be related to climatic constraints which could determine lower viability of eggs and young at high latitudes.

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Zusammenfassung In der Westpaläarktis ist die Gelegegröße des Uhus in Gebieten unterschiedlicher geographischer Länge und Breite konstant. Im Unterschied dazu nimmt die Brutgröße von Süden nach Norden ab, umgekehrt zum Trend bei anderen Eulen. Die Tendenz der Abnahme der Brutgröße scheint unabhängig von der Siedlungsdichte und der Erreichbarkeit von Beute mit hohem Nährwert. Sie kann mit klimatischen Bedingungen zusammenhängen, die eine höhere Mortalität der Eier bzw. Nestlinge in hohen Breiten verursachen.

     

Geographic variation in flower color patterns within Calceolaria uniflora Lam. in Southern Patagonia

Infraspecific variation in flower colors was evaluated in 26 populations of Calceolaria uniflora Lam. in Southern Patagonia, Argentina. Computerized analysis of high-resolution photo-images was used to estimate the proportions of red, orange and yellow in surfaces of two corolla parts, instep and throat, in field samples of 20–35 flowers per population. The between-populations component accounted for 48% of variance for instep colors and 24% for throat colors. Geographic differentiation was found between populations with a uniform red instep in the Andes in the west, and populations with a maculate yellow-and-red instep in the Magellanic steppe to the east. Mixed populations occurred in a transition zone. Throat colors showed a different, north-south geographic trend. Based on color pattern and distribution, two subspecies may be differentiated within C. uniflora. Their overall geographic distribution is related to climate and vegetation, but their detailed distribution is better explained by isolation by distance and barriers to gene flow.     

Floristics and environmental factors determining the geographic distribution of epiphytic bromeliads in the Brazilian Atlantic Rain Forest

We investigated how epiphytic species and subfamilies of Bromeliaceae change along the extent of the Atlantic Rain Forest, to answer the questions: (i) How do the epiphytic genera and subfamilies of Bromeliaceae change along the domain? (ii) How similar are the different regions of the Atlantic Rain Forest in relation to the epiphytic species of bromeliads? (iii) Which environmental variables are the most important factors in determining species composition along the domain? We found 114 species of Bromelioideae and 73 of Tillandsioideae. The predominance of Bromelioideae was unexpected, because they are not wind-dispersed as would be expected for most epiphytes. The smaller number of species of Tillandsioideae, and the high frequency of species of Vriesea with limited geographic distributions indicated that epiphytes with rather limited geographic distributions predominate in this domain. Species similarity was divided into one block of south–southeastern localities, and a second block of northeastern–southeastern localities. These results suggest that the distribution of epiphytic bromeliad species resembles that of the phorophyte trees, more than a previous pattern suggested for all epiphytes in the domain. Latitude, temperature and altitude were important factors affecting the species composition along the domain. In general, our results differ from those of other studies in Latin America, and we suggest that historical and evolutionary events generated these differences.     

Geographic patterns of mtDNA diversity in Europe

Genetic diversity in Europe has been interpreted as a reflection of phenomena occurring during the Paleolithic ( approximately 45,000 years before the present [BP]), Mesolithic ( approximately 18,000 years BP), and Neolithic ( approximately 10,000 years BP) periods. A crucial role of the Neolithic demographic transition is supported by the analysis of most nuclear loci, but the interpretation of mtDNA evidence is controversial. More than 2,600 sequences of the first hypervariable mitochondrial control region were analyzed for geographic patterns in samples from Europe, the Near East, and the Caucasus. Two autocorrelation statistics were used, one based on allele-frequency differences between samples and the other based on both sequence and frequency differences between alleles. In the global analysis, limited geographic patterning was observed, which could largely be attributed to a marked difference between the Saami and all other populations. The distribution of the zones of highest mitochondrial variation (genetic boundaries) confirmed that the Saami are sharply differentiated from an otherwise rather homogeneous set of European samples. However, an area of significant clinal variation was identified around the Mediterranean Sea (and not in the north), even though the differences between northern and southern populations were insignificant. Both a Paleolithic expansion and the Neolithic demic diffusion of farmers could have determined a longitudinal cline of mtDNA diversity. However, additional phenomena must be considered in both models, to account both for the north-south differences and for the greater geographic scope of clinical patterns at nuclear loci. Conversely, two predicted consequences of models of Mesolithic reexpansion from glacial refugia were not observed in the present study.