Coat Polymorphism in Eurasian Lynx: Adaptation to Environment or Phylogeographic Legacy?

• DOI: 10.1007/s10914-021-09580-7
• Publication Date: 2021-11-09T18:03:40Z
• Authors: Romane Darul; Alexander Gavashe...; Alexander P. Save...; Ivan V. Seryodkin; John D. C. Linnell; Henryk Okarma; Guna Bagrade; Aivars Ornicans; Janis Ozolins; Peep Männil; Igor Khorozyan; Dime Melovski; Aleksandar Stojanov; Aleksandër Trajçe; Bledi Hoxha; Mikhail G. Dvornikov; Naranbaatar Galsa...; Innokentiy Okhlopkov; Jimsher Mamuchadze; Yuriy A. Yarovenko; Muzigit I. Akkiev; Giorgi Sulamanidze; Vazha Kochiashvili; Mehmet Kürşat Şahin; Sergey A. Trepet; Alim B. Pkhitikov; Mohammad S. Farha...; Jose A. Godoy; Tomáš Jászay; Mirosław Ratkiewicz; Krzysztof Schmidt
• Keywords: Coat; Mammal

Abstract We studied the relationship between variability and contemporary distribution of pelage phenotypes in one most widely distributed felid species an array environmental demographic conditions. collected 672 photographic georeferenced records Eurasian lynx throughout Eurasia. assigned each coat to five phenotypes. Then we fitted patterns different anthropogenic variables, as well effective geographic distances from inferred glacial refugia. A majority were either large spotted (41.5%) or unspotted (uniform, 36.2%) phenotype. The remaining (rosettes, small spots pseudo-rosettes) represented 11.0%, 7.4%, 3.9% samples, respectively. Although various variables greatly affected habitat suitability, it was effect least-cost locations refugia during Last Glacial Maximum that explained best. Whereas occurrence with by proximity located Caucasus/Middle East, uniform phenotype associated Far East Central Asia. Despite accepted hypothesis adaptive functionality mammals exceptionally high phenotypic polymorphism lynx, did not find well-defined signs matching pattern this species. Instead, showed how global morphological mammal its adaptations may have been shaped past climatic change.