What specific geographical features were found to correlate with genetic structuring in studies on the Siberian Zokor, Eospalax fontanierii?
Answer
Known geographic barriers such as major river systems or mountain chains acting as vicariance events.
Phylogeographic analysis conducted on the Siberian Zokor, *Eospalax fontanierii*, utilized mitochondrial DNA sequences to map genetic diversity against geography. These analyses revealed significant genetic structuring that aligned precisely with established physical divisions within the landscape. Specifically, major river systems and mountain chains acted as vicariance events—physical barriers that isolated populations and prevented gene flow, thereby promoting independent evolutionary paths and leading to the observed deep genetic divergence among separated groups.
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