• Email:
    poulakakis@biology.uoc.gr
  • Phones:
    Office: Π 209 (Knosos Buildings), Tel. +30 2810 393619, Fax +30 2810 324366 Lab: Π 210 (Knosos Buildings), Tel.: +30 2810 393282
Department:
Molecular Phylogenetics Lab
Psonis N., Lymberakis P., Poursanidis D., Poulakakis N. (2016) Contribution to the study of Acanthodactylus (Sauria: Lacertidae) mtDNA diversity focusing in the A. boskianus species group. Mitochondrion.
Psonis N., Antoniou A., Kukushkin V.O., Jablonski D., Petrov B., Crnobrnja – Isailović J., Sotiropoulos K., Gherghel I., Lymberakis P., Poulakakis N. (2016) Unexpected phylogenetic relationships within the Podarcis tauricus subgroup (Sauria, Lacertidae) using multilocus approaches. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution
Hedman H.D., Karameta E., Kapsalas G., Psonis N., Poulakakis N., Foufopoulos J., Pafilis P. (2016) A new locality record of Podarcis peloponnesiacus (Bibron and Bory, 1833) (Sauria: Lacertidae) from Athens, Greece.
Dritsou V., Deligianni E., Dialynas E., Allen J., Poulakakis N., Louis C., Lawson D., Topalis P. (2015) Non-coding RNA gene families in the genomes of anopheline mosquitoes. BMC Genomics 15, 1038
Psonis N., Vardinoyannis K., Mylonas M., Poulakakis N. (2015) Unraveling the evolutionary history of the Chilostoma Fitzinger, 1833 (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Pulmonata) lineages in Greece. Mol. Phyl. Evol. 91, 210-225, doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2015.05.019
Psonis N., Lymberakis P., Poursanidis D., Poulakakis N. (2016) Contribution to the study of Acanthodactylus (Sauria: Lacertidae) mtDNA diversity focusing in the A. boskianus species group. Mitochondrion.
Psonis N., Antoniou A., Kukushkin V.O., Jablonski D., Petrov B., Crnobrnja – Isailović J., Sotiropoulos K., Gherghel I., Lymberakis P., Poulakakis N. (2016) Unexpected phylogenetic relationships within the Podarcis tauricus subgroup (Sauria, Lacertidae) using multilocus approaches. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution
Hedman H.D., Karameta E., Kapsalas G., Psonis N., Poulakakis N., Foufopoulos J., Pafilis P. (2016) A new locality record of Podarcis peloponnesiacus (Bibron and Bory, 1833) (Sauria: Lacertidae) from Athens, Greece.
Dritsou V., Deligianni E., Dialynas E., Allen J., Poulakakis N., Louis C., Lawson D., Topalis P. (2015) Non-coding RNA gene families in the genomes of anopheline mosquitoes. BMC Genomics 15, 1038
Psonis N., Vardinoyannis K., Mylonas M., Poulakakis N. (2015) Unraveling the evolutionary history of the Chilostoma Fitzinger, 1833 (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Pulmonata) lineages in Greece. Mol. Phyl. Evol. 91, 210-225, doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2015.05.019
Psonis N., Vardinoyannis K., Mylonas M., Poulakakis N. (2015) Evaluation of the taxonomy of Helix cincta (Muller, 1774) and Helix nucula (Mousson, 1854); insights using mitochondrial DNA sequence data. Journal of Natural History 49(5-8), 383-392, doi:10.1080/00222933.2013.825023
Poulakakis N., Edwards D.L., Chiari Y., Garrick R.C., Russello M.A., Benavides E., . . ., Caccone A. (2015) Description of a new Galapagos giant tortoise species (Chelonoidis; Testudines: Testudinidae) from Cerro Fatal on Santa Cruz island. PLOS One 10(10),e0138779, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0138779
Kapli P., Lymberakis P., Crochet P., Geniez P., Brito J.C., Almutairi M., Ahmadzadeh F., Schmitz A., Wilms T., Pouyani N.R., Poulakakis N. (2015) Historical biogeography of the lacertid lizard Mesalina in North Africa and the Middle East. Journal of Biogeography 42(2), 267-279. doi:10.1111/jbi.12420
Sagonas K., Poulakakis N., Lymberakis P., Parmakelis A., Pafilis P., Valakos E.D. (2014) Molecular systematics and historical biogeography of the green lizards (Lacerta) in Greece: Insights from mitochondrial and nuclear DNA. Mol. Phyl. Evol. 76, 144–154
Vogiatzi E., Kalogianni E., Zimmerman B., Giakoumi S., Barbieri R., Paschou P., Magoulas A., Tsaparis D., Poulakakis N., Tsigenopoulos C.S. (2014) Reduced genetic variation and strong genetic population structure in the freshwater killifish Valencia letourneuxi (Valenciidae) based on nuclear and mitochondrial markers. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 111, 334–349
Candan K., Kankilic T., Guclu O., Kumlutaş Y., Durmus S.H., Lymberakis P., Poulakakis N., Çetin I. (2014) First Assessment on the Molecular Phylogeny of Anatololacerta (Squamata, Lacertidae) Distributed in Southern Anatolia; Insights From mtDNA and nDNA Markers. Mitochondrial DNA 1-8
Poulakakis Ν., Kapli P., Lymberakis P., Trichas A., Vardinoyiannis K., Sfenthourakis S., Mylonas M. (2014) A review of phylogeographic analyses of animal taxa from the Aegean and surrounding regions. Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research 53(1), 18-32
Poulakakis N., Kapli P., Lymberakis P., Trichas A., Vardinoyiannis K., Sfenthourakis S., Mylonas M. (2014) A review of phylogeographic analyses of animal taxa from the Aegean and surrounding regions. Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research 53(1),18-32, doi:10.1111/jzs.12071
Poulakakis N., Kapli P., Kardamaki A., Skourtanioti E., Goecmen B., Ilgaz C., Kumlutaş Y., Avcı A., Lymberakis P. (2013) Comparative phylogeography of six herpetofauna species in Cyprus: late Miocene to Pleistocene colonization routes. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 108(3), 619-635
Guclu O., Candan K., Kankilic T., Kumlutaş Y., Durmus S.H., Poulakakis N., Ilgaz C. (2013) Phylogeny of Trachylepis sp. (Reptilia) from Turkey inferred from mtDNA sequences. Mitochondrial DNA 0, 1-8
Kapli P., Botoni D., Ilgaz C., Kumlutaş Y., Avcı A., Pouyani N.R., Fathinia B., Lymberakis P., Ahmadzadeh F., Poulakakis N. (2013) Molecular phylogeny and historical biogeography of the Anatolian lizard Apathya (Squamata, Lacertidae). Mol. Phyl. Evol. 66, 992–1001
Kyriazi P., Kornilios P., Nagy Z.T., Poulakakis N., Kumlutaş Y., Ilgaz C., Avcı A., Göçmen B., Lymberakis P. (2013) Comparative phylogeography reveals distinct colonization patterns of Cretan snakes. Journal of Biogeography 40(6), 1143-1155
Kapli P., Botoni D., Ilgaz T., Kumlutaş Y., Avcı A., Rastegar-Pouyani N., . . ., Poulakakis N. (2013) Corrigendum to "molecular phylogeny and historical biogeography of the anatolian lizard Apathya (Squamata, lacertidae)" [mol. Phylogenet. Evol. 66 (2013) 992-1001]. Mol. Phyl. Evol. 69(1), 308-309
Vogiatzi E., Kalogianni E., Zimmerman B., Giakoumi S., Barbieri R., Paschou P., Magoulas A., Tsaparis D., Poulakakis N., Tsigenopoulos C.S. (2013) Reduced genetic variation and strong genetic population structure in the freshwater killifish Valencia letourneuxi (Valenciidae) based on nuclear and mitochondrial markers. Biol. J. linn. Soc. 111, 334–349, doi:10.1111/bij.12206
Poulakakis N., Russello M., Geist D., Caccone A. (2012) Unraveling the Peculiarities of Island Life: Vicariance, Dispersal and the Diversification of the Extinct and Extant Giant Galapagos Tortoises. Molecular Ecology 21, 160–173
Kyriazi P., Kornilios P., Nagy, T.N., Poulakakis N., Kumlutaş Y., Ilgaz C., Avcı A., Göçmen B., Lymberakis P. (2012) Comparative phylogeography reveals distinct colonization patterns of Cretan snakes. Journal of Biogeography doi:10.1111/jbi.12057
Garrick R.C., Benavides E., Russello M.A., Gibbs J.P., Poulakakis N., Dion K.B., Hyseni C., Kajdacsi B., Márquez L., Bahan S., Ciofi C., Tapia, W., Caccone, A. (2012) Genetic rediscovery of an ‘extinct’ Galápagos giant tortoise species. Current Biology 22(1), R10-R11
Kapli P., Poulakakis N., Lymberakis P., Mylonas M. (2011) A re-analysis of the molecular phylogeny of Lacertidae with currently available data. Basic and Applied Herpetology 25, 97-104
Deligianni E., Morgan R.N., Bertuccini L., Kooij T.W.A., Laforge A., Poulakakis N., Schüler H., Louis C., Matuschewski K., Siden-Kiamos I. (2011) Critical role for a stage-specific actin in male exflagellation of the malaria parasite. Cellular Microbiology 13(11), 1714–1730
Lymberakis P., Poulakakis N. (2010) Three continents claiming an archipelago: The evolution of Aegean’s herpetofaunal diversity. Diversity 2, 233-255
Parmakelis A., Moustaka M., Poulakakis N., Louis C., Slotman M.A., Marshall J.C., Awono-Ambene P.H., Antonio-Nkondjio C., Simard F., Caccone A., Powell J.R. (2010) Anopheles immune genes and amino acid sites evolving under the effect of positive selection. PLOS One 5(1), e8885
Poulakakis N., Stamatakis A. (2010) Recapitulating the Evolution of Afrotheria: 57 genes and RGCs consolidate their history. Systematics and Biodiversity 8(3), 395–408
Russello M.R., Poulakakis N., Gibbs J.P., Tapia W., Powell J.R., Caccone A. (2010) DNA from the Past Informs Ex situ Conservation for the Future: An “Extinct” Species of Galapagos Tortoise Identified in Captivity. PLOS One 5(1), e8683
Kornilios P., Kyriazi P., Poulakakis N., Kumlutaş Y., Ilgaz C., Mylonas M., Lymberakis P. (2010) Phylogeography of the ocellated skink Chalcides ocellatus (Squamata, Scincidae), with the use of mtDNA sequences: a hitchhiker's guide to the Mediterranean. Mol. Phyl. Evol. 54, 445-456
Pafilis P., Foufopoulos J., Poulakakis N., Lymberakis P., Valakos E. (2009) Tail shedding in island lizards (Lecertidae, Reptilia): Decline of antipredator defences in relaxed predation environments. Evolution 63(5), 1262–1278
Kornilios P., Poulakakis N., Mylonas M., Vardinoyannis K. (2009) Molecular phylogeny of the genus Zonites (Gastropoda: Pulmonata). Journal of Molluscan Studies 75(2), 109-117
Kyriazi P., Poulakakis N., Parmakelis A., Crochet P.A., Moravec J., Rastegar-Pouyani N., Tsigenopoulos C.S., Magoulas A., Mylonas M., Lymberakis P. (2008) Mitochondrial DNA reveals the genealogical history of the snake-eyed lizards (Ophisops elegans and O. occidentalis) (Sauria: Lacertidae). Mol. Phyl. Evol. 49, 795-805
Poulakakis N., Glaberman S., Russello M., Beheregaray L.B., Ciofi C., Powell J.R., Caccone A. (2008) Rediscovery of an extinct species of giant Galapagos tortoise. PNAS 105(40), 15464–15469
Poulakakis N., Sfenthourakis S. (2008) Molecular phylogeny and phylogeography of the Greek populations of the genus Orthometopon (Isopoda, Oniscidea) based on mtDNA sequences. Zoological Journal of Linnean Society 152, 707-715
Poulakakis N., Pakaki V., Mylonas M., Lymberakis P. (2008) Phylogeography of the Greek legless skink Ophiomorus punctatissimus (Sauria: Scincidae). The impact of the Mid-Aegean trench in its phylogeography. Mol. Phyl. Evol. 47, 396-402
Trichas A., Lagkis A., Triantis K., Poulakakis N., Chatzaki M. (2008) Biogeographic patterns of tenebrionid beetles (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae) on four island groups in the south Aegean Sea. Journal of Natural History 42, 491-511
Lymberakis P., Poulakakis N., Kaliontzopoulou A., Valakos E., Mylonas M. (2008) Two new species of Podarcis (Squamata; Lacertidae) from Greece. Systematics and Biodiversity 6(3), 307–318
Xirouchakis S., Poulakakis N. (2008) Biometrics, sexual dimorphism and gender determination in an insular population of griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus). ARDEA 96, 1-10
Kapli P., Lymberakis P., Poulakakis N., Mantziou G., Parmakelis A., Mylonas M. (2008) Molecular phylogeny and evolutionary history of the species of the genus Mesalina (Sauria: Lacertidae) based on mitochondrial DNA sequences. Mol. Phyl. Evol. 49, 102–110
Poulakakis N., Antoniou A., Mantziou G., Parmakelis A., Skartsi Th., Vasilakis D., Elorriaga J., de la Puente J., Gavashelishvili A., Ghasabyan M., Katzner T., McGrady M., Batbayar N., Fuller M., Natsagdorj T. (2008) Population structure, diversity and phylogeography in the near threatened Eurasian Black Vulture Aegypius monachus (Falconiformes; Accipitridae) in Europe: insights from microsatellite and mtDNA variation. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 95(4), 859-872

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Curriculum Vitae

Research interests:
Our research interests are in the broad area of molecular systematics, phylogeny, and phylogeography, using modern and ancient DNA. Sequence data are rapidly becoming the characters of choice for reconstructing phylogenies, as well as for distinguishing the evolutionary forces acting at the DNA level. We are involved in studying micro-evolutionary mechanisms that generate diversity, identifying genes that are useful in phylogeny of several organisms(mainly vertebrates) and using neutral markers to reconstruct the phylogenetic relationships of organisms and infer current and historical population processes at various spatial and temporal scales. 
We are mainly question driven rather than organism bound. Thus, we have been working with a variety of invertebrate and vertebrate taxa, ranging from snails, isopods to frogs, lizards, birds and mammals. Additionally, much of our research also focuses on the using techniques suitable for the extraction of ancient DNA from fossil bones (especially large mammals of the Mediterranean region, such as elephants, deer, hippos) in order to re-evaluate the current taxonomic status of those species and to reconstruct their relationships with the modern relatives.

Recent Publications

  • Russello, M.R., Poulakakis, N., Gibbs, J.P., Tapia, W., Powell, J.R. and Caccone, A. 2010. DNA from the Past Informs Ex situ Conservation for the Future: An “Extinct” Species of Galapagos Tortoise Identified in Captivity. PLOS One5(1), e8683. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0008683

  • Lymberakis, P. & Poulakakis, N. 2010. Three continents claiming an archipelago: The evolution of Aegean’s herpetofaunal diversity. Diversity 2, 233-255.

  • Parmakelis, A, Moustaka, M., Poulakakis, N., Louis, C., Slotman, M.A., Marshall, J.C., Awono-Ambene, P.H., Antonio-Nkondjio, C., Simard, F., Caccone, A. and Powell, J.R. 2010. Anopheles immune genes and amino acid sites evolving under the effect of positive selection. PLOS One 5(1), e8885. (doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0008885).

  • Poulakakis, N. & Stamatakis, A. 2010. Recapitulating the Evolution of Afrotheria: 57 genes and RGCs consolidate their history. Systematics & Biodiversity 8(3), 395-408.

  • Deligianni, E., Morgan, R.N., Bertuccini, L., Kooij, T.W.A., Laforge, A., Poulakakis, N. , Schuler, H., Louis, C., Matuschewski, K. & Siden-Kiamos, I. 2011 Critical role for a stage-specific actin in male exflagellation of the malaria parasite. Cellular Microbiology. (accepted).

Complete List of Publications