Modeled trajectories of the Mediterranean squamates

Mediterranean islands have a high diversity of squamates, although they
are unevenly distributed. This variability in the composition of the
reptile assemblages across islands may have been influenced by differences
in the colonization abilities of these species. To evaluate the dispersal
capacities of squamate species, we modeled their sea routes using cost
surface models. We estimated the effects of some life-history traits and
the phylogenetic signal in the characteristics of the modeled dispersal
paths. We hypothesized that a significant phylogenetic signal should be
present if the dispersal ability is enhanced by traits shared among
evolutionarily related species. The results showed that no phylogenetic
signal was present in the characteristics of the dispersal paths (i.e., in
the distance traveled/bypassed sea depth). Thus, no superior
island-colonizer lineages were detected in Mediterranean Squamata.
However, our analyses also revealed that small-sized lizards were superior
to other groups of squamates at dispersing over long distances on the
sea.Mediterranean islands have a high diversity of squamates, although
they are unevenly distributed. This variability in the composition of the
reptile assemblages across islands may have been influenced by differences
in the colonization abilities of these species. To evaluate the dispersal
capacities of squamate species, we modeled their sea routes using cost
surface models. We estimated the effects of some life-history traits and
the phylogenetic signal in the characteristics of the modeled dispersal
paths. We hypothesized that a significant phylogenetic signal should be
present if the dispersal ability is enhanced by traits shared among
evolutionarily related species. The results showed that no phylogenetic
signal was present in the characteristics of the dispersal paths (i.e., in
the distance traveled/bypassed sea depth). Thus, no superior
island-colonizer lineages were detected in Mediterranean Squamata.
However, our analyses also revealed that small-sized lizards were superior
to other groups of squamates at dispersing over long distances on the sea.