Abstract
The evolutionary processes driving patterns of genetic diversity and differentiation, and ultimately leading to speciation, are poorly understood. The aim of this thesis was to investigate the effects of environmental and biological mechanisms on gene flow and genetic diversity in the Bornean orang-utans, Specifically, I examined the effects of the Pleistocene climatic changes and riverine barriers as well as sex-biased dispersal. My results suggest that current Bornean orang-utan populations are the result of a recent radiation throughout the island, following the probable confinement within a glacial refugium in the Pleistocene. Furthermore, I found evidence for an extreme pattern of female philopatry and male-biased dispersal. These processes have led to highly structured genetic diversity, rendering the orangutans particularly vulnerable to anthropogenic effects and future climatic changes.
Highlights
The evolutionary processes driving genetic diver‐ sity and differentiation, and responsible too for speciation, are not well understood and often debated (Coyne and Orr 2004)
The aim of this thesis was to investigate the effects of environ‐ mental and biological mechanisms on gene flow and genetic diversity in the Bornean orang‐utans
My results suggest that current Bornean orang‐utan populations are the result of a recent radia‐ tion throughout the island, following the probable confinement within a glacial refugium in the Pleisto‐ cene
Summary
The evolutionary processes driving genetic diver‐ sity and differentiation, and responsible too for speciation, are not well understood and often debated (Coyne and Orr 2004). The evolutionary processes driving patterns of genetic diversity and differentiation, and speciation, are poorly understood. The aim of this thesis was to investigate the effects of environ‐ mental and biological mechanisms on gene flow and genetic diversity in the Bornean orang‐utans.
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