Pleistocene climatic changes shaped the patterns of biodiversity in Europe and around the Mediterranean. Describing the
phylogeographic structure of animal populations and inferring past population dynamics is essential to develop a framework for
conservation biology in Europe. Direct persecution, habitat loss, population fragmentation and hybridization with domesticated
conspecifics, are the main threats to the survival of large mammalian species. In this paper I will summarize the available
information on phylogeography and population genetics of brown bear, wolf, wildcat and otters in Italy and in Europe. To cite
this article: E. Randi, C. R. Biologies 326 (2003).