We were involved with several research projects aimed at understanding the evolutionary relationships of tortoises from the Indian Ocean, including extant and extinct species. Our work focused on endangered Madagascar tortoises and the Giant Aldabra tortoise. Work was completed by Claudio Ciofi with University of Florence, Italy, Oliver Balmer with Swiss, Tropical and Public Health Institute and Eric Palkovacs with University of California, Santa Cruz.
Publications
Karanth, K.P., E. Palkovacs, J. Gerlach, S. Glaberman, J.P. Hume, A. Caccone and A.D. Yoder. 2005 Native Seychelle tortoises or Aldabran imports? The importance of radiocarbon dating for ancient DNA studies. Amphibia-Reptilia 26:116-121.
Palkovacs, E.P., M. Marschner, C. Ciofi, J. Gerlach and A. Caccone. 2003. Are the native giant tortoises from the Seychelles really extinct? A genetic perspective based on mtDNA and microsatellite data. Molecular Ecology 12: 1403-1413.
Palkovacs, E.P., J. Gerlach and A. Caccone. 2002. Evolutionary origin of Indian Ocean tortoises (Dipsochelys). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 24:216-227.