163820 20251107115328.0 doi 10.1016/j.quascirev.2025.109672 sideral 145855 ART-2025-145855 eng Alfaro-Ibáñez, M.P. Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0000-0002-0041-0507 Spatiotemporal dynamics of Chionomys nivalis from the Late Pleistocene to the present: insights from ancient DNA and dental morphology 2025 The snow vole, Chionomys nivalis, exhibits a fragmented distribution across Europe and is currently classified as a Near Threatened or Vulnerable species in several regions. In the Iberian Peninsula, this fragmented distribution is also observed in both fossil and extant populations. This study integrates paleontological and genetic data from El Mirón Cave (Cantabria, Spain), a site with an almost continuous record of C. nivalis throughout the Late Pleistocene and Holocene. Through ancient DNA analysis and a detailed study of the morphology of the first lower molar, we compare these individuals with the different subspecies and present-day populations. These analyses allowed the identification of at least four morphotypes (“lebrunii”, “abulensis”, “aquitanicus”, and “nivalis”) and, with the use of comparative genetic data from extant populations in the Ordesa and Monte Perdido National Park (Huesca, Spain), indicate affinities with two distinct modern subspecies from Central and Northeastern Spain, suggesting a complex evolutionary history. These findings highlight the role of climatic oscillations and topographic barriers in shaping the historical biogeography of C. nivalis and underscore the value of integrating paleogenetics with dental morphology in reconstructing species distribution dynamics. Access copy available to the general public Unrestricted info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/DGA/E18-23R info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MICINN-AEI-FEDER/PGC2018-093925-B-C33 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess by-nc-nd https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/deed.es info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion Bover, P. (orcid)0000-0003-2942-2840 Lira Garrido, J. Domínguez, J.C. García, J.T. Martínez-Padilla, J. Cuenca-Bescós, G. Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0000-0001-5125-9651 2000 655 Universidad de Zaragoza Dpto. Ciencias de la Tierra Área Paleontología 370 (2025), 109672 Quat. sci. rev. QUATERNARY SCIENCE REVIEWS 0277-3791 5253117 http://zaguan.unizar.es/record/163820/files/texto_completo.pdf Versión publicada 2574714 http://zaguan.unizar.es/record/163820/files/texto_completo.jpg?subformat=icon icon Versión publicada oai:zaguan.unizar.es:163820 articulos driver 2025-11-07-10:25:21 ARTICLE