Presentation

The current distribution of the Mediterranean chelonians is the result of a long and complex evolutionary history.
The circum-Mediterranean region comprises three continents and is characterized by a complex physiography, with peninsulas, mountain chains, and islands, resulting from a highly dynamic and composite geological history that shaped the chelonian geographic ranges we can observe at present.
Nevertheless, this region has been one of the areas of the planet more densely and widely populated by man since the antiquity, and due to the fact that chelonians had a special role in the life of human beings (at least as food, source of raw materials and tools, pets, ‘jewellery’, and ritual objects), the present distribution of the Mediterranean chelonians has been partly influenced by human intervention.

How much the current distribution of the Mediterranean chelonians reflects the physiographic evolution of the region and it is therefore the product of ‘natural’ processes?
When, where, and why humans relocated chelonians in the Mediterranean area?

Attempts of finding answers can be accomplished with different approaches.
Recent developments in molecular phylogenetics offer powerful tools to investigate these and other aspects, providing previously unexpected scenarios not only in terms of fine-scale phylogenetic relationships, but also in terms of phylogeography.
At the same time, palaeozoology and archaeozoology, still representing the only direct access to the temporal and geographic dimension of biological events occurred in the past, provide key evidence on the historical biogeography of chelonians, not to mention direct indications about human-animal interactions.
Unfortunately, the above mentioned disciplines are developed by different researchers in different institutions, often with different approaches and goals, and their results are published in different magazines.
A sort of barrier seems to deeply affect the circulation of information.

The goal of this workshop is to offer a chance of meeting and discussing the topic to all those who are working, or are simply interested, in the historical biogeography of the Mediterranean chelonians. All this on an island that presently hosts four species of chelonians … whose history is possibly much more complex than formerly supposed.

Technical aspects

Oral and poster presentations dealing with all aspects of palaeontology, archaeozoology, taxonomy, biogeography and phylogeography of Mediterranean chelonians are welcomed.

News about the workshop and preliminary programme will be posted on this site.