Examining the Molecular Phylogeny of the Egyptian Barbastelle (Barbastella Leucomelas) based on the Mitochondrial COI Gene: A New Report from Iran

Abstract

Phylogenetic inference is a keystone in evolutionary biology research, which provides the foundations for thinking and answering a wide range of questions such as population dynamics and statistical species classification. Barbastelle bats have geographically isolated populations, and the possibility of cryptic species within the distribution range of this genus has been predicted in previous studies. Previously, different populations of Barbastelle bats in Iran have been assigned to two species: Caspian Barbastelle (Barbastella caspica), and European Barbastelle (Barbastella barbastellus). In the present study, the phylogeny of the Egyptian Barbastelle population in Qazvin province in Iran was investigated. Molecular phylogeny of Egyptian barbastelle, which belongs to the Caspian Barbastelle, was compared with other taxa of this genus based on the mitochondrial COI gene. The results of the study showed that the populations of the southern slopes of the Alborz Mountains and possibly the populations of central and western Iran could not be classified as Caspian Barbastelle. Rather, from a Phylogenetic point of view and based on the observed genetic similarity, this population was closer to the Egyptian form (Barbastella leucomelas) of this genus.