Aims: To characterize the genetic and morphological diversification of the endangered Balearic lizard Podarcis lilfordi and to assess the relevance of this diversity, and how it is described, to conservation measures. Location: This study covers all the populations of the Balearic lizard, Podarcis lilfordi, present in its range of distribution at coastal islets of Menorca, Mallorca and Cabrera Archipelago. Methods: We analysed genetic and morphological variation across the 43 known extant populations of the Balearic lizard, using mitochondrial and nuclear markers. We examined morphometric and scalation characters using, in some cases, phylogenetically independent contrasts. We also incorporated the study of dorsal coloration and dorsal colour pattern including the analysis of melanism in several populations. Results: We detected clear genetic divergence between Menorcan populations and populations from Mallorca and Cabrera, in both nuclear and mtDNA markers, but genetic divergence is relatively low among different insular populations within these groups. In contrast, morphological divergence was substantial both between Menorcan and remaining populations and within these groups. Morphological traits, such as dorsal coloration, body size and the number and size of scales, seemed to be linked with differences in climatic conditions between populations. In addition, some traits, as melanism, showed a strong phylogenetic signal. Main conclusions: The morphological and genetic diversity of the Balearic lizard is incongruent with the subspecies described in the classical taxonomic literature. Moreover, current populations differ not only in some genetic and morphological features, but also in several ecological and ethological characteristics, in many cases unique to one population. Based on our results, we propose abandoning the use of subspecies to describe the extraordinary morphological diversity of the Balearic lizard and its replacement with the concept of evolutionary significant units (ESUs). ESUs are particularly suitable to describe and recognize such diversity and, especially, to ensure the continuity of the evolutionary process.

中文翻译：

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巴利阿里蜥蜴的形态和遗传多样性，Podarcis lilfordi (Günther, 1874)：它与它的保护有关吗？

目的：描述濒临灭绝的巴利阿里蜥蜴 Podarcis lilfordi 的遗传和形态多样化特征，并评估这种多样性与保护措施的相关性及其描述方式。地点：这项研究涵盖了巴利阿里蜥蜴 Podarcis lilfordi 的所有种群，它们分布在梅诺卡岛、马略卡岛和卡布雷拉群岛的沿海小岛。方法：我们使用线粒体和核标记分析了 43 个已知现存巴利阿里蜥蜴种群的遗传和形态变异。在某些情况下，我们使用系统发育独立的对比检查了形态测量和缩放特征。我们还纳入了对背部颜色和背部颜色模式的研究，包括对几个人群的黑色素分析。结果：我们在核和 mtDNA 标记中检测到 Menorcan 种群与来自 Mallorca 和 Cabrera 的种群之间存在明显的遗传差异，但这些群体内不同岛屿种群的遗传差异相对较低。相比之下，梅诺坎人和剩余种群之间以及这些群体内部的形态差异很大。形态特征，如背部颜色、体型和鳞片的数量和大小，似乎与种群间气候条件的差异有关。此外，一些性状，如黑色素，显示出强烈的系统发育信号。主要结论：巴利阿里蜥蜴的形态和遗传多样性与经典分类学文献中描述的亚种不一致。而且，当前种群不仅在某些遗传和形态特征上存在差异，而且在若干生态和行为学特征上也存在差异，在许多情况下，一个种群是独一无二的。根据我们的结果，我们建议放弃使用亚种来描述巴利阿里蜥蜴的非凡形态多样性，并用进化重要单位 (ESU) 的概念代替它。ESU 特别适合描述和识别这种多样性，尤其是确保进化过程的连续性。我们建议放弃使用亚种来描述巴利阿里蜥蜴的非凡形态多样性，并用进化重要单位 (ESU) 的概念代替它。ESU 特别适合描述和识别这种多样性，尤其是确保进化过程的连续性。我们建议放弃使用亚种来描述巴利阿里蜥蜴的非凡形态多样性，并用进化重要单位 (ESU) 的概念代替它。ESU 特别适合描述和识别这种多样性，尤其是确保进化过程的连续性。