Abstract
Understanding population genetics, with a geographical approach, provides patterns in connectivity to be developed and analysed. This connectivity provides insight into population movement and diversity. Small mammal studies have only recently started to explore this connectivity from a mitochondrial and nuclear perspective and have since expanded on its diversity. To continue expanding the literature, phylogeographic studies were carried out in four species of elephant shrew- Elephantulus rupestris, Elephantulus intufi, Elephantulus pilicaudus and Elephantulus edwardii.
The mitochondrial control region and nuclear microsatellite loci were amplified and analysed. The control region verified species identification and haplotype networks were constructed. The microsatellite loci initially created for another species of Elephantulus- E. myurus- were cross-amplified in four other species. Successful amplification was seen in E. rupestris and E. intufi allowing further analysis of structure plots and networks.
A pattern of structure was found across all species excluding E. rupestris, which showed geographic variation with considerable overlap, suggesting some level of speciation. Elephantulus intufi showed isolation by distance suggesting that the structure seen may be a more recent finding with the movement no longer occurring. Elephantulus pilicaudus and E. edwardii showed geographical structure with many unique haplotypes at the different localities.
These findings suggest that small mammal diversity may have been overlooked for many years and has only recently been explored. There is much to learn regarding the influence geographical and ecological processes may have on the diversity and connectivity of many species, and ultimately how best to conserve them.