2016
I-HEDGE: determining the optimum complementary sets of taxa for conservation using evolutionary isolation
Jensen E, Mooers A, Caccone A, Russello M. I-HEDGE: determining the optimum complementary sets of taxa for conservation using evolutionary isolation. PeerJ 2016, 4: e2350. PMID: 27635324, PMCID: PMC5012326, DOI: 10.7717/peerj.2350.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPhylogenetic diversityConservation prioritizationMitochondrial control region dataCurrent biodiversity crisisTotal phylogenetic diversityImportance of speciesGiant Galápagos tortoisesControl region dataSubset of taxaEvolutionary distinctivenessBiodiversity crisisConservation effortsEvolutionary isolationExtinction probabilityInordinate lossGalápagos tortoisesList of rankingsAccount complementarityExtinct speciesEvolutionary historyPhylogenetic networksDiversitySpeciesTaxaPrioritization
2015
Genetics of a head-start program to guide conservation of an endangered Galápagos tortoise (Chelonoidis ephippium)
Jensen E, Tapia W, Caccone A, Russello M. Genetics of a head-start program to guide conservation of an endangered Galápagos tortoise (Chelonoidis ephippium). Conservation Genetics 2015, 16: 823-832. DOI: 10.1007/s10592-015-0703-7.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchGalápagos tortoisesEx situ conservation strategiesEx situ conservation programsWild populationsMicrosatellite genotypic dataSitu conservation strategiesSitu conservation programsGenetic variationGiant Galápagos tortoisesSignificant genetic differentiationPopulation genetic variationEx situ approachesConservation strategiesConservation interventionsConservation programsWildlife speciesCaptive foundersPinzón IslandCaptive populationsGenetic differentiationBreadth of diversityIntensive managementGiant tortoisesPrivate allelesManagement decisions
2012
Genetic rediscovery of an ‘extinct’ Galápagos giant tortoise species
Garrick R, Benavides E, Russello M, Gibbs J, Poulakakis N, Dion K, Hyseni C, Kajdacsi B, Márquez, Bahan S, Ciofi C, Tapia W, Caccone A. Genetic rediscovery of an ‘extinct’ Galápagos giant tortoise species. Current Biology 2012, 22: r10-r11. PMID: 22240469, DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2011.12.004.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsFloreana IslandHybrid individualsGiant tortoise speciesUnique evolutionary lineagesGiant Galápagos tortoisesCaptive breeding programsEvolutionary lineagesGalápagos tortoisesHybrid offspringExtinct speciesGenetic footprintsTortoise speciesBreeding programsGalápagos IslandsGenetic signaturesExtant individualsIsabela IslandGenomeSpeciesMixed ancestryTortoisesAncestryIslandsLineagesLikely mechanism
2011
Unravelling the peculiarities of island life: vicariance, dispersal and the diversification of the extinct and extant giant Galápagos tortoises
POULAKAKIS N, RUSSELLO M, GEIST D, CACCONE A. Unravelling the peculiarities of island life: vicariance, dispersal and the diversification of the extinct and extant giant Galápagos tortoises. Molecular Ecology 2011, 21: 160-173. PMID: 22098061, DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-294x.2011.05370.x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGiant Galápagos tortoisesHuman-mediated dispersal eventsVicariant eventsGalápagos tortoisesMainland South AmericaHuman activitiesIndependent evolutionary unitsAvailable geological dataSimple linear trendRecent human activitiesIsland lifeEvolutionary unitsEndangered taxaColonization eventsExtant speciesDispersal eventsEvolutionary historyGeological dataMultiple colonizationsExtinct speciesOcean islandsDNA dataOlder islandsYounger islandsOceanic islands
2006
Phylogeographic History and Gene Flow Among Giant Galápagos Tortoises on Southern Isabela Island
Ciofi C, Wilson GA, Beheregaray LB, Marquez C, Gibbs JP, Tapia W, Snell HL, Caccone A, Powell JR. Phylogeographic History and Gene Flow Among Giant Galápagos Tortoises on Southern Isabela Island. Genetics 2006, 172: 1727-1744. PMID: 16387883, PMCID: PMC1456292, DOI: 10.1534/genetics.105.047860.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDispersal eventsMitochondrial DNA control region sequencesGalápagos giant tortoisesLimited dispersal abilityRecent dispersal eventsControl region sequencesGiant Galápagos tortoisesMultilocus genotyping methodsLand bridge formationMovement of organismsEffects of vicarianceRapid population declineIslands of IsabelaLineage sortingClade analysisPhylogeographic historyGene flowDispersal abilityGenetic divergenceGalápagos tortoisesMicrosatellite lociPhylogeographic inferenceSouthern Isabela IslandTaxonomic distinctionGiant tortoises
2004
Extreme difference in rate of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA evolution in a large ectotherm, Galápagos tortoises
Caccone A, Gentile G, Burns CE, Sezzi E, Bergman W, Ruelle M, Saltonstall K, Powell JR. Extreme difference in rate of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA evolution in a large ectotherm, Galápagos tortoises. Molecular Phylogenetics And Evolution 2004, 31: 794-798. PMID: 15062813, DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2004.02.004.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGalápagos tortoisesUnusual reproductive biologyKb of mtDNANuclear DNA evolutionEffective population sizeGiant Galápagos tortoisesRate of evolutionMtDNA divergenceMtDNA evolutionBiogeographic historyDNA evolutionMolecular evolutionNeutral theoryReproductive biologyLarge ectothermsNuclear DNAEctothermic animalsPopulation sizeSilent substitutionsNucDNAMtDNAKbTortoisesDivergenceExtreme differencesGiant tortoises are not so slow: Rapid diversification and biogeographic consensus in the Galápagos
Beheregaray L, Gibbs J, Havill N, Fritts T, Powell J, Caccone A. Giant tortoises are not so slow: Rapid diversification and biogeographic consensus in the Galápagos. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2004, 101: 6514-6519. PMID: 15084743, PMCID: PMC404076, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0400393101.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGiant Galápagos tortoisesGalápagos tortoisesGreat natural laboratoryGenetic variationDivergent monophyletic cladesHistory of diversificationIsolated oceanic archipelagoPatterns of colonizationBiogeographic predictionsEvolutionary diversificationGene flowEndemic haplotypesExtant populationsLimited dispersalOceanic archipelagosBiogeographic patternsEvolutionary eventsBiological diversificationMonophyletic cladeMtDNA sequencesRapid diversificationGenetic interchangeRange expansionOlder islandsGiant tortoisesGenetic analysis of a successful repatriation programme: giant Galpagos tortoises
Milinkovitch M, Monteyne D, Gibbs J, Fritts T, Tapia W, Snell H, Tiedemann R, Caccone A, Powell J. Genetic analysis of a successful repatriation programme: giant Galpagos tortoises. Proceedings Of The Royal Society B 2004, 271: 341-345. PMID: 15101691, PMCID: PMC1691607, DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2003.2607.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGenetic variationIsland of EspañolaGiant Galápagos tortoisesMicrosatellite DNA markersNatural populationsGalápagos tortoisesDNA markersNatural habitatsSitu reproductionBreeding programsGenetic analysisRepatriation programBreedersTortoisesOffspringFurther lossHabitatsTaxaPaternitySpeciesCaptivityReproductionPopulationIslandsVariation
2002
Microsatellite analysis of genetic divergence among populations of giant Galápagos tortoises
Ciofi C, Milinkovitch M, Gibbs J, Caccone A, Powell J. Microsatellite analysis of genetic divergence among populations of giant Galápagos tortoises. Molecular Ecology 2002, 11: 2265-2283. PMID: 12406238, DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-294x.2002.01617.x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGiant Galápagos tortoisesGenetic divergenceGalápagos tortoisesIsland populationsVolcan WolfIndividual island populationsIslands of IsabelaGene flowAdaptive differentiationGenetic structureMtDNA diversityExtant populationsColonization eventsEvolutionary historyMicrosatellite lociDifferent taxaAllelic similarityHeavy exploitationDNA workMicrosatellite analysisDeterministic threatsDistinct populationsTortoisesInteresting modelDivergence
1999
Origin and evolutionary relationships of giant Galápagos tortoises
Caccone A, Gibbs J, Ketmaier V, Suatoni E, Powell J. Origin and evolutionary relationships of giant Galápagos tortoises. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 1999, 96: 13223-13228. PMID: 10557302, PMCID: PMC23929, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.96.23.13223.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchGiant Galápagos tortoisesLonesome GeorgeGalápagos tortoisesDistinct genetic unitsMitochondrial DNA sequencesMainland South AmericaSouth AmericaEvolutionary relationshipsPhylogenetic reconstructionSeparate colonizationsSouthern subspeciesPinta IslandChaco tortoisesDNA sequencesGalápagos IslandsClosest livingG. chilensisGenetic unitsSubspeciesCharles DarwinTortoisesLarge islandsSan CristobalChilensisLast survivor