From Rearranged Genomes to Recognized Species: Evolutionary Dynamics in Diplodactylid Geckos of New Caledonia: PhD Defense - Mustafa Erkaya

Year
2026
Organisation
Villanova University
Tags
New Caledonia
Geckos
Population Genetics
Mitochondrial Genomics
Mitochondrial DNA
Bavayia Geitaina
Bavayia Septuiclavis
Bavayia Sauvagii
Diplodactylidae
Phylogenetics
Genetic Isolation
Gene Flow
Hybridization
Introgression
speciation
Microendemism
Endemic Species
Island Biogeography
Population Structure
Mantel Test
Long-Range PCR
DNA Extraction
Salt Extraction
Sanger Sequencing
Next-Generation Sequencing
Oxford Nanopore Sequencing
PacBio Sequencing
Control Region
Repetitive DNA
Genome Duplication
Genome Fragmentation
tRNA Rearrangement
Mitochondrial Genome
Primer Design
DNA Degradation
Mount Koghi
Goro Plateau
Ultramafic Habitat
Evolutionary Genetics
Summary

Mustafa presents research on population structure and mitochondrial genome evolution in New Caledonian geckos, particularly Bavayia geitaina and Bavayia septuiclavis. Nuclear markers indicated continuing gene flow within B. septuiclavis, whereas B. geitaina contained two largely isolated populations that meet at Mount Koghi, where introgression with B. sauvagii may also occur. A second study resolved persistent long-range PCR failures by replacing column-based DNA extraction with salt extraction, substantially improving amplification success. Complete mitochondrial genomes revealed extensive control-region repeats, fragmentation, duplication and tRNA rearrangements, demonstrating limitations of short-read sequencing and identifying potentially useful evolutionary characters for future phylogenetic research across diplodactylid geckos.