2015
Description of a New Galapagos Giant Tortoise Species (Chelonoidis; Testudines: Testudinidae) from Cerro Fatal on Santa Cruz Island
Poulakakis N, Edwards D, Chiari Y, Garrick R, Russello M, Benavides E, Watkins-Colwell G, Glaberman S, Tapia W, Gibbs J, Cayot L, Caccone A. Description of a New Galapagos Giant Tortoise Species (Chelonoidis; Testudines: Testudinidae) from Cerro Fatal on Santa Cruz Island. PLOS ONE 2015, 10: e0138779. PMID: 26488886, PMCID: PMC4619298, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0138779.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMultiple independent evolutionary lineagesGiant tortoise speciesIndependent evolutionary lineagesCompelling genetic evidenceGalapagos tortoisesRank of speciesSanta Cruz IslandGenetic distinctivenessAnalysis of DNAEvolutionary lineagesEvolutionary relationshipsNatural populationsDNA charactersDistinct lineagesIsland of originTaxonomic revisionMorphological charactersMuseum specimensNew speciesGenetic evidenceTortoise speciesLineagesSpeciesTortoisesType specimen
2010
DNA from the Past Informs Ex Situ Conservation for the Future: An “Extinct” Species of Galápagos Tortoise Identified in Captivity
Russello MA, Poulakakis N, Gibbs JP, Tapia W, Benavides E, Powell JR, Caccone A. DNA from the Past Informs Ex Situ Conservation for the Future: An “Extinct” Species of Galápagos Tortoise Identified in Captivity. PLOS ONE 2010, 5: e8683. PMID: 20084268, PMCID: PMC2800188, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0008683.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsExtinct speciesCaptive individualsGenotypic dataExtant speciesGalápagos tortoisesNative rangeTortoise speciesMitochondrial DNA control region haplotypesHistorical DNA analysisMicrosatellite genotypic dataControl region haplotypesMitochondrial DNA haplotypesEx situ conservationSpecies recovery effortsConservation-related researchIslands of IsabelaCryptic diversityBayesian assignmentDNA haplotypesSitu conservationFloreana IslandConservation statusBreeding effortsMicrosatellite genotypesMuseum specimens
2008
Historical DNA analysis reveals living descendants of an extinct species of Galápagos tortoise
Poulakakis N, Glaberman S, Russello M, Beheregaray LB, Ciofi C, Powell JR, Caccone A. Historical DNA analysis reveals living descendants of an extinct species of Galápagos tortoise. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2008, 105: 15464-15469. PMID: 18809928, PMCID: PMC2563078, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0805340105.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMuseum specimensHistorical DNA analysisDiversification of organismsCaptive breeding programsIsland of FloreanaModern DNA techniquesMicrosatellite dataGalápagos tortoisesConservation biologyMitochondrial DNANatural selectionExtinct speciesExtinct taxaBreeding programsGiant tortoisesIntense harvestingGenetic analysisGenetic dataGalápagos ArchipelagoTortoise populationsDNA techniquesHuman exploitationNearby islandsEnough individualsSpeciesHistorical analysis of a near disaster: Anopheles gambiae in Brazil.
Parmakelis A, Russello MA, Caccone A, Marcondes CB, Costa J, Forattini OP, Sallum MA, Wilkerson RC, Powell JR. Historical analysis of a near disaster: Anopheles gambiae in Brazil. American Journal Of Tropical Medicine And Hygiene 2008, 78: 176-8. PMID: 18187802, DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.2008.78.176.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHuman-mediated range expansionIntrinsic historical interestAnopheles gambiaeDisease vectorsHistorical DNA analysisHuman-mediated dispersalInsect disease vectorsMuseum collectionsHistorical analysisNear disasterHistorical interestAnopheles gambiae complexHistorical informationTime of invasionIntercontinental introductionSpecies complexSpecies identityRange expansionMuseum specimensGambiae complexGambiaeSpeciesAnopheles arabiensisIdentityDNA analysis
2007
Lineage identification of Galápagos tortoises in captivity worldwide
Russello M, Hyseni C, Gibbs J, Cruz S, Marquez C, Tapia W, Velensky P, Powell J, Caccone A. Lineage identification of Galápagos tortoises in captivity worldwide. Animal Conservation 2007, 10: 304-311. DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-1795.2007.00113.x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMitochondrial DNA control region sequencesGenetic dataPopulation allele frequency dataCaptive population managementControl region sequencesMicrosatellite genotype dataPopulation genetic dataConservation valueConservation strategiesLonesome GeorgeCaptive breedingExtant populationsAllele frequency dataMtDNA haplotypesRobust populationEvolutionary originGalápagos tortoisesHybrid originPopulation managementMuseum specimensMtDNA analysisGeochelone nigraRegion sequencesMolecular approachesNovel haplotypes