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  • david_tarkhnishvili@iliauni.edu.ge
  • Cholokhashvili ave. 3/5, Tbilisi 0162, Georgia

David Tarkhnishvili

Direction:Evolutionary Biology and Ecology
Position:Full Professor

graduated from Tbilisi State University (Biology, zoology) (1982). PhD in Ecology from Research Inst. of Ecology, Ural Sci. Center at Sverdlovsk (pres. Ekaterinsburg), Russia, 1987. Research – interspecific competition of amphibians. Work experience – Tbilisi State University, Vietnam Tropical Center (1990), Bangor University, UK (1996-1997, post-doctoral fellow), Zoological Research Institute and Museum Al. Koenig, Bonn, Germany (1998; 1999-2003; post-doctoral fellow, researcher).Studies mostly in ecology, biogeography, population genetics and evolution of amphibians and reptiles. Over 100 published research papers. At Ilia State since 2006, employed as a dean of the school of Life Sciences (2006-2010), dean of the School of Natural Sciences and Medicine (2014-2022), and director of the Institute of Ecology (2010 – present).

Scientific interests / research interests
  • Evolutionary biology
  • Speciation
  • Population ecology and genetics
  • Ecological modeling
  • Biogeography
  • Human population genetics
  • Caucasus
  • Amphibians and reptiles were the main research object for many years, however, in recent years the projects are on different organisms, including conifer plants, lizards, snails, domestic animals, and humans.
  • Tarkhnishvili, D., Hille, A., Waller, T., Todua, M., Murtskhvaladze, M., & Böhme, W. (2022). Morphological trends and genetic divergence in anacondas, genus Eunectes Wagler, 1830 (Serpentes: Boidae). Amphibia-Reptilia, 1(aop), 1-15.
  • Barateli, N., Tarkhnishvili, D., Iankoshvili, G., & Kokiashvili, L. (2022). Reproductive effort of unisexual and bisexual rock lizards (genus Darevskia). Zoologischer Anzeiger, 301, 196-204.
  • Yanchukov, A., Tarkhnishvili, D., Erdolu, M., Şahin, M. K., Candan, K., Murtskhvaladze, M., ... & Galoyan, E. (2022). Precise paternal ancestry of hybrid unisexual ZW lizards (genus Darevskia: Lacertidae: Squamata) revealed by Z-linked genomic markers. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 136(2), 293-305.
  • Gavashelishvili, A., Yanchukov, A., Tarkhnishvili, D., Murtskhvaladze, M., Akhvlediani, I., & Kazancı, C. (2021). Landscape genetics and the genetic legacy of Upper Paleolithic and Mesolithic hunter-gatherers in the modern Caucasus. Scientific Reports, 11(1), 17985.
  • Iankoshvili, G., & Tarkhnishvili, D. (2021). Distribution of snakes (Reptilia: Serpentes) in Georgia: Social media networks help to improve scientific knowledge. Zoology in the Middle East, 67(3), 228-239.
  • Barateli, N., Tarkhnishvili, D., Iankoshvili, G., Kokiashvili, L., Dvali, N., & Janiashvili, Z. (2021). Fine-scale analysis of habitat occupancy by Kura lizard (Darevskia portschinskii) and its daughter parthenogenetic form (Darevskia dahli). Herpetozoa, 34, 71.
  • Shakarashvili, M., Kopaliani, N., Gurielidze, Z., Dekanoidze, D., Ninua, L., & Tarkhnishvili, D. (2020). Population genetic structure and dispersal patterns of grey wolfs (Canis lupus) and golden jackals (Canis aureus) in Georgia, the Caucasus. Journal of Zoology, 312(4), 227-238.
  • Tarkhnishvili, D., Yanchukov, A., Şahin, M. K., Gabelaia, M., Murtskhvaladze, M., Candan, K., … & Anderson, C. L. (2020). Genotypic similarities among the parthenogenetic Darevskia rock lizards with different hybrid origins. BMC Evolutionary Biology, 20(1), 1-25.
  • Galoyan, E., Moskalenko, V., Gabelaia, M., Tarkhnishvili, D., Spangenberg, V., Chamkina, A., & Arakelyan, M. (2020). Syntopy of two species of rock lizards (Darevskia raddei and Darevskia portschinskii) may not lead to hybridization between them. Zoologischer Anzeiger, 288, 43-52.
  • Murtskhvaladze, M., Tarkhnishvili, D., Anderson, C. L., & Kotorashvili, A. (2020). Phylogeny of caucasian rock lizards (Darevskia) and other true lizards based on mitogenome analysis: Optimisation of the algorithms and gene selection. Plos one, 15(6), e0233680.
  • Tarkhnishvili, D., Gabelaia, M., & Adriaens, D. (2020). Phenotypic divergence, convergence and evolution of Caucasian rock lizards (Darevskia). Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 130(1), 142-155.
  • Tarkhnishvili, D., Barateli, N., Murtskhvaladze, M., & Iankoshvili, G. (2020). Estimating phenotypic heritability of sexual and unisexually reproducing rock lizards (genus Darevskia). Zoologischer Anzeiger, 285, 105-113.
  • Candan, K., Kornilios, P., Yanchukov, A., Kumlutas, Y., Ayaz, D., Tarkhnishvili, D.,& Sahin, M. K. (2019). Molecular Phylogeny of Valentin’s Lizard, Darevskia valentini,(Boettger, 1892) Reveals New Genetic Lineages and may suggest Taxonomic Reconstruction.
  • Thormann, J., Ahrens, D., Anderson, C., Astrin, J. J., Mumladze, L., Rulik, B.,… Tarkhnishvili, D… & Iankoshvili, G. (2019). A prelude to the Caucasus Barcode of Life Platform (CaBOL): Biodiversity Days in Georgia in 2018 and 2019. Bonn zoological Bulletin, 68(2), 275-296.
  • Gabelaia, M., Tarkhnishvili, D., & Adriaens, D. (2018). Use of three-dimensional geometric morphometrics for the identification of closely related species of Caucasian rock lizards (Lacertidae: Darevskia). Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 125(4), 709-717
  • Ninua, L., Tarkhnishvili, D., & Gvazava, E. (2018). Phylogeography and taxonomic status of trout and salmon from the Ponto‐Caspian drainages, with inferences on European Brown Trout evolution and taxonomy. Ecology and evolution, 8(5), 2645-2658.
  • Tarkhnishvili, D., Gabelaia, M., Kandaurov, A., Bukhnikashvili, A., & Iankoshvili, G. (2017). Isolated population of the Middle Eastern Phoenicolacerta laevis from the Georgian Black Sea Coast, and its genetic closeness to populations from southern Turkey. Zoology in the Middle East, 63(4), 311-315.
  • Gabelaia, M., Adriaens, D., & Tarkhnishvili, D. (2017). Phylogenetic signals in scale shape in Caucasian rock lizards (Darevskia species). Zoologischer Anzeiger, 268, 32-40.
  • Tarkhnishvili, D., Murtskhvaladze, M., & Anderson, C. L. (2017). Coincidence of genotypes at two loci in two parthenogenetic rock lizards: how backcrosses might trigger adaptive speciation. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 121(2), 365-378.
  • Tarkhnishvili, D., Gavashelishvili, A., Murtskhvaladze, M., & Latsuzbaia, A. (2016). Landscape complexity in the Caucasus impedes genetic assimilation of human populations more effectively than language or ethnicity. Human Biology, 88(4), 287-300.
  • Gavashelishvili, A., & Tarkhnishvili, D. (2016). Biomes and human distribution during the last ice age. Global Ecology and Biogeography, 25(5), 563-574.
  • Tarkhnishvili, D., Gabelaia, M., Mumladze, L., & Murtskhvaladze, M. (2016). Mitochondrial phylogeny of the Darevskia saxicola complex: two highly deviant evolutionary lineages from the easternmost part of the range. The Herpetological Journal, 26(2), 175-182.

Most cited publications

  • Tarkhnishvili, D., Gokhelashvili,R. (1999). The Amphibians of the Caucasus. Pensoft, Sofia.
  • Tarkhnishvili, D., Gavashelishvili, A., & Mumladze, L. (2012). Palaeoclimatic models help to understand current distribution of Caucasian forest species. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 105(1), 231-248.
  • Tarkhnishvili, D. N., Thorpe, R. S., & Arntzen, J. W. (2000). Pre-Pleistocene refugia and differentiation between populations of the Caucasian salamander (Mertensiella caucasica). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 14(3), 414-422.
  • Murtskhvaladze, M., Gavashelishvili, A., & Tarkhnishvili, D. (2010). Geographic and genetic boundaries of brown bear (Ursus arctos) population in the Caucasus. Molecular Ecology, 19(9), 1829-1841.
  • Kopaliani, N., Shakarashvili, M., Gurielidze, Z., Qurkhuli, T., & Tarkhnishvili, D. (2014). Gene flow between wolf and shepherd dog populations in Georgia (Caucasus). Journal of Heredity, 105(3), 345-353.
  • Tarkhnishvili, D., Gavashelishvili, A., Avaliani, A., Murtskhvaladze, M., & Mumladze, L. (2010). Unisexual rock lizard might be outcompeting its bisexual progenitors in the Caucasus. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 101(2), 447-460.
  • Tarkhnishvili, D. (2012). Evolutionary history, habitats, diversification, and speciation in Caucasian rock lizards. Advances in zoology research, 2, 79-120.
  • Weddeling, K., Hachtel, M., Sander, U., & Tarkhnishvili, D. (2004). Bias in estimation of newt population size: a field study at five ponds using drift fences, pitfalls and funnel traps. Herpetological Journal, 14(1), 1-8.
  • Tarkhnishvili, D., Hille, A., & BÖhme, W. (2001). Humid forest refugia, speciation and secondary introgression between evolutionary lineages: differentiation in a Near Eastern brown frog, Rana macrocnemis. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 74(2), 141-156.
  • Tarkhnishvili, D. (2014). Historical biogeography of the Caucasus (No. A). NOVA science publishers.

Supervision of completed PhD dissertations

  • Gavashelishvili, Alexander. Ilia State University. 2009. Prediction of species’ distribution: habitat modeling in the Caucasus.
  • Murtskhvaladze, Marine. Ilia State University. Oct. 2012. Studies in speciation and the analysis of animal population structure in the Caucasus.
  • Mumladze, Levan. Ilia State University. July 2013. Diversity and geographic distribution of Land Snails in Georgia.
  • Chaladze, Giorgi. Ilia State University. July 2015. Biodiversity Modeling and development of Biodiversity Database for Georgia.
  • Gratiashvili, Nana. Ilia State University. 2016. Investigation of the Caucasian and Alpine ants ((Myrmoxenus tamarae (Arnol’di, 1968), Leptothorax scamni Ruzsky, 1905, Leptothorax acervorum (Fabricius, 1793))
  • Martkopishvili, Inga. Ilia State University. 2017. The diet and medicinal remedies of humans from Upper Paleolitic, Neolitic, and Bronse Age of Georgia.
  • Javakhishvili, Zurab. Ilia State University. 2018. Seasonal movements of birds in Georgia and their role in the expansion of bird influenza.
  • Gabelaia, Mariam. Ilia State University. 2019. Phylogeny and morphological variation in the rock lizards of the genus Darevskia.
  • Gabelaia, M., Tarkhnishvili, D.,Murtskhvaladze, M. 2015.Phylogeography and morphological variation in a narrowly distributed Caucasian rock lizard, Darevskia mixta.Amphibia-Reptilia 36: 45-54
  • Tarkhnishvili, D., Gavashelishvili, A., Murtskhvaladze, M., Gabelaia, M., Tevzadze, G. 2014.Human Paternal Lineages, Languages and Environment in the Caucasus.Human Biology 86: 113-130
  • Kopaliani N., Shakarashvili M., Gurielidze Z., Qurkhuli T. &Tarkhnishvili, D. 2014.Gene flow between wolf and shepherd dog populations in Georgia (Caucasus).Journal of Heredity doi:10.1093/jhered/esu014
  • Tarkhnishvili, D. Rana macrocnemis (Boulenger, 1885)–KleinasiatischerBraunfrosch. Pp. 263-293 In: Grossenbacher, K. (ed.), Handbuch der Reptilien und AmphibienEuropas, V. 5. AULA-verlag, Wiebelsheim.
  • Tarkhnishvili D., Murtskhvaladze M., Gavashelishvili A. 2013. Speciation in Caucasian lizards: climatic dissimilarity of the habitats is more important than isolation time. Biological Journal of the LinneanSociety 109 (4): 876-892.
  • Mumladze L., Tarkhnishvili D., Murtskhvaladze M. 2013.Systematics and evolutionary history of large endemic snails from the Caucasus (Helix buchii, H. goderdziana).American Malacological Bulletin 31 (2): 225-234.
  • Murtskhvaladze M, Gurielidze Z, Kopaliani N, Tarkhnishvili D. 2012. Gene introgression between Gazella subguturrosa and marica: limitations of maternal inheritance analysis for species identification with conservation purposes. ActaTheriologica57 (4): 383-386.
  • Tarkhnishvili, D. Evolutionary History, Habitats, Diversification, and Speciation in Caucasian Rock Lizards. Pp. 79-120 In: Advances in Zoology Research, Volume 2 (ed. Jenkins OP), Nova Science Publishers, Hauppauge (NY)
  • Tarkhnishvili, D, Gavashelishvili, A., Mumladze, L. 2012. Palaeoclimatic models help to understand current distribution of Caucasian forest species. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 105, 231-248.
  • Pokryszko, BA, Cameron RAD, Mumladze L, Tarkhnsihvili D. 2011. Forest snail faunas from Georgian Transcaucasia: patterns of diversity in a Pleistocene refugium. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 102, 239-250
  • Tarkhnishvili D, Gavashelishvili A, Avaliani A, Murtskhvaladze M, Mumladze L. 2010.Unisexual rock lizard might be outcompeting its bisexual progenitors in the Caucasus. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 101, 447-460
  • Murtskhvaladze M, Gavashelishvili A, Tarkhnishvili D. 2010.Geographic and genetic boundaries of brown bear (Ursus arctos) population in the Caucasus. Molecular Ecology, 19, 1829-1841

An extensive list of publications:

Course Catalog

Bachelor’s level

  • Evolution – From Darwin to XXI Century: Facts and Theories

Master’s level

  • Evolutionary Research Methods
  • Methods of Evolutionary Research (ENG)
  • Contemporary Research in Ecology and Biodiversity
  • Master Seminar (For Applied Genetics)
  • Statistics for Biologists (ENG)

Doctoral level

  • Doctoral Seminar I (Ecology)

Bachelor’s level

  • Basics of Ecology
  • Field and Laboratory Practices in Ecology 2
  • Evolution – From Darwin to XXI Century: Facts and Theories
  • Field and Laboratory Practices in Ecology 1

Master’s level

  • Analysis of Biological Data (ENG)
  • Field Methods of Biodiversity Assessment
  • Taxonomic, Molecular, and Geophysical Drivers of Biodiversity (and biodiversity research) in the Caucasus
  • Population Biology and Genetics (ENG)
  • Population Ecology and Genetics
  • Master Seminar (For Applied Genetics)
  • Master Seminar (For Ecology)
  • Methods of Evolutionary Research (ENG)
  • Contemporary Research in Ecology and Biodiversity
  • Master Seminar (For Applied Genetics)
  • Statistics for Biologists
  • Statistics for Biologists (ENG)

Course Catalog

2020 – 2021 Year

Bachelor’s level

  • Basics of Ecology
  • Field and Laboratory Practices in Ecology 1
  • Evolution – From Darwin to XXI Century: Facts and Theories
  • Field and Laboratory Practices in Ecology 2

Master’s level

  • Analysis of Biological Data
  • Analysis of Biological Data (ENG)
  • Field Methods of Biodiversity Assessment
  • Population Ecology and Genetics
  • Evolutionary Research Methods
  • Ecological Researches
  • Statistics for Biologists
  • Statistics for Biologists (ENG)

Doctoral level

  • Research Seminar I

2019 – 2020 Year

Bachelor’s level

  • Basics of Ecology
  • Field and Laboratory Practices in Ecology 1
  • Evolution – From Darwin to XXI Century: Facts and Theories

Master’s level

  • Analysis of Biological Data
  • Analysis of Biological Data (ENG)
  • Field Methods of Biodiversity Assessment
  • Population Genetics
  • Population Genetics (ENG)
  • Population Ecology and Genetics
  • Evolutionary Research Methods
  • Methods of Evolutionary Research (ENG)
  • Ecological Researches
  • Statistics for Biologists (ENG)

Doctoral level

  • Doctoral Seminar II

2018 - 2019 Year

Bachelor’s level

  • Basics of Ecology
  • Field and Laboratory Practices in Ecology 1
  • Evolution – From Darwin to XXI Century: Facts and Theories

Master’s level

  • Analysis of Biological Data
  • Field Methods of Biodiversity Assessment
  • Population Genetics
  • Evolutionary Research Methods
  • Ecological Researches
  • Statistics for Biologists

Doctoral level

  • Doctoral Seminar I
  • Preparation of field reports

2017 – 2018 Year

Bachelor’s level

  • Basics of Ecology
  • Evolution – From Darwin to XXI Century: Facts and Theories

Master’s level

  • Analysis of Biological Data
  • Field Methods of Biodiversity Assessment
  • Population Genetics
  • Population Ecology and Genetics
  • Evolutionary Research Methods
  • Ecological Researches
  • Statistics for Biologists

2016 – 2017   Year

Bachelor’s level

  • Basics of Ecology
  • Evolution – From Darwin to XXI Century: Facts and Theories

Master’s level

  • Bioinformatics
  • Field Methods of Biodiversity Assessment
  • Population Genetics
  • Population Ecology and Genetics
  • Evolutionary Research Methods
  • Ecological Researches
  • Statistics for Biologists

Doctoral level

  • Advanced Population Biology (Eng)

2015 – 2016  Year

Bachelor’s level

  • Basics of Ecology
  • Evolution – From Darwin to XXI Century: Facts and Theories

Master’s level

  • Bioinformatics
  • Population Genetics
  • Population Ecology and Genetics
  • Ecological Researches
  • Wildlife and Habitat Biodiversity
  • Statistics for Biologists

Doctoral level

  • Multivariate Statistics in Ecology

2014  - 2015 Year

Bachelor’s level

  • Basics of Ecology
  • Evolution – From Darwin to XXI Century: Facts and Theories

Master’s level

  • Field Methods of Biodiversity Assessment
  • Population Ecology and Genetics
  • Ecological Researches
  • Biodiversity of Wild Species and Habitants
  • Statistics for Biologists

Doctoral level

  • Multivariate Statistics in Ecology

2013 – 2014  Year

Bachelor’s level

  • Ecology

Master’s level

  • Ecological Researches
  • Principles of Population Ecology and Genetics
  • Academic Writing (MA)
  • Field Methods of Biodiversity Assessment
  • Population Genetical Data Analysis
  • Statistics for Biologists

Doctoral level

  • Multivariate Statistics in Ecology

2012 – 2013 Year

Bachelor’s level

  • Historical Climate Change and Formation of Species
  • Ecology

Master’s level

  • Ecological Researches
  • Population Genetics
  • Principles of Population Ecology and Genetics
  • Assistance (MA)
  • Master's Thesis (Life)
  • Statistics for Biologists

Doctoral level

  • Multivariate Statistics in Ecology

2011 -2012 Year

Bachelor’s level

  • Historical Climate Change and Formation of Species
  • Ecology

Master’s level

  • Basic Trends of Modern Ecology
  • Population Biology I
  • Evolutionary Research Methods
  • Master's Thesis - Ecology and Conservational Biology
  • Statistics for Biologists

Doctoral level

  • Multivariate Statistics in Ecology

2010 - 2011 Year

Bachelor’s level

  • Live Universe and Evolution

Master’s level

  • Basic Trends of Modern Ecology-
  • Population Biology I
  • Evolutionary Research Methods
  • Statistics for Biologists

Doctoral level

  • Multivariate Statistics in Ecology

2009-2010 Year

Bachelor’s level

  • Biogeography
  • Georgian Flora
  • Live Universe and Evolution

Master’s level

  • Basic Trends of Modern Ecology
  • Data Acquisition and Analysis in Ecology (Field Course)
  • Population Biology I
  • Animal Adaptations II

2008-2009 Year

Bachelor’s level

  • Georgian Flora

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