The application of phylogenetic and genomic analyses to the study of animal biodiversity and evolution, with a specific focus on mammals, is the main goal of the Phylogeny and Phylogeography of Mammals lab. Using next-generation sequencing techniques and advanced bioinformatics tools, the population divergence and speciation process in different species complexes are analysed in order to obtain a better description of our biological diversity. These modern methodologies are also used to study kinship relationships and connectivity between populations in some species of great conservation importance, such as the Pyrenean desman.
Lab website: Castresana Lab
Principal Investigator
Current members
Ongoing projects
Publications
Escoda L.; Fernández-González Á.; Castresana J. 2019. Quantitative analysis of connectivity in populations of a semi-aquatic mammal using kinship categories and network assortativity. Molecular Ecology Resources. 19(2):310-326 doi: 10.1111/1755-0998.12967
Hawlitschek O.; Fernández-González A.; Balmori-de la Puente A.; Castresana J. 2018. A pipeline for metabarcoding and diet analysis from fecal samples developed for a small semi-aquatic mammal. PLoS ONE. 13(8): e0201763 doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0201763
Querejeta, M.;Fernández-González, A.;Romero, R.;Castresana, J. 2017. Postglacial dispersal patterns and mitochondrial genetic structure of the Pyrenean desman (Galemys pyrenaicus) in the northwestern region of the Iberian Peninsula. Ecology and Evolution . 7(12):4486-4495
García K.; Melero Y.;Palazón S.;Gosálbez J.;Castresana J. 2017. Spatial mixing of mitochondrial lineages and greater genetic diversity in some invasive populations of the American mink (Neovison vison) compared to native populations. Biological Invasions. 19(9):2663-2673. DOI:10.1007/s10530-017-1475-4