One of the long-term projects of the Institute of Ecology deals with the relict ecosystems in Kolkheti. More specifically, it studies one of the most interesting groups of animals called cliff lizards, which comprise around 20 species, the majority of which are encountered in the Western Caucasus.
Some of the species are unique in that they are capable of asexual reproduction – females put unfertilized eggs from which only females are hatched. What caused such an amazing diversity of lizards? Can this be caused by changing environmental conditions or isolation between different populations caused by mountainous landscape?
For the purposes of studying these issues, we apply different methods, such as:
- Meticulous study of the spread of individual species and development of geographical models by using geographic information systems;
- Study of changes in external features of lizards;
- Determination of differences in species according to DNA structure in molecular-genetic laboratories.
Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society has recently received an article from our university confirming the advantage of asexual reproduction of lizards in current climate condition; however, the studies are still being conducted.
In June and July, this year, the expeditions were held throughout West Georgia, except Abkhazia, and nearby territories of Turkey.
We determined around 80 new spots in which cliff lizards, relict snails, butterflies and dragonflies are spread, collected about 200 samples which will be studied in genetic laboratories.
We offer students who are interested in evolution-related issues to get involved in these interesting studies, which may even become research topics of their future dissertations.
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