1
|
Jablonski D, Mebert K, Masroor R, Simonov E, Kukushkin O, Abduraupov T, Hofmann S. The Silk roads: phylogeography of Central Asian dice snakes (Serpentes: Natricidae) shaped by rivers in deserts and mountain valleys. Curr Zool 2024; 70:150-162. [PMID: 38726254 PMCID: PMC11078056 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoad008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Influenced by rapid changes in climate and landscape features since the Miocene, widely distributed species provide suitable models to study the environmental impact on their evolution and current genetic diversity. The dice snake Natrix tessellata, widely distributed in the Western Palearctic is one such species. We aimed to resolve a detailed phylogeography of N. tessellata with a focus on the Central Asian clade with 4 and the Anatolia clade with 3 mitochondrial lineages, trace their origin, and correlate the environmental changes that affected their distribution through time. The expected time of divergence of both clades began at 3.7 Mya in the Pliocene, reaching lineage differentiation approximately 1 million years later. The genetic diversity in both clades is rich, suggesting different ancestral areas, glacial refugia, demographic changes, and colonization routes. The Caspian lineage is the most widespread lineage in Central Asia, distributed around the Caspian Sea and reaching the foothills of the Hindu Kush Mountains in Afghanistan, and Eastern European lowlands in the west. Its distribution is limited by deserts, mountains, and cold steppe environments. Similarly, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan lineages followed the Amu Darya and the Syr Darya water systems in Central Asia, with ranges delimited by the large Kyzylkum and Karakum deserts. On the western side, there are several lineages within the Anatolia clade that converged in the central part of the peninsula with 2 being endemic to Western Asia. The distribution of both main clades was affected by expansion from their Pleistocene glacial refugia around the Caspian Sea and in the valleys of Central Asia as well as by environmental changes, mostly through aridification.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Jablonski
- Department of Zoology, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | | | - Rafaqat Masroor
- Pakistan Museum of Natural History, Shakarparian, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Evgeniy Simonov
- Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Oleg Kukushkin
- T. I. Vyazemski Karadag Scientific Station—Nature Reserve—Branch of A.O. Kovalevsky Institute of Biology of the Southern Seas, Theodosia, Crimea
- Zoological Institute of the RAS, Saint Petersbourg, Russia
| | - Timur Abduraupov
- Institute of Zoology, Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Yunusabad, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
| | - Sylvia Hofmann
- Museum Koenig Bonn, LIB—Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change, Bonn, Germany
- UFZ – Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Department of Conservation Biology, Permoserstrasse 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Liu S, Mo M, Li M, Li B, Luo X, Rao D, Li S. Description of a New Species of the Pareas hamptoni Complex from Yunnan, China, with Confirmation of P. hamptoni Sensu Stricto in China (Squamata, Pareidae). Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:421. [PMID: 38338064 PMCID: PMC10854836 DOI: 10.3390/ani14030421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
We describe a new species of the genus Pareas, based on three specimens collected from Guanyinshan Provincial Nature Reserve in Yuanyang County, Honghe Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China. The new species is distinguished from its congeners by one preocular, one postocular or postocular fused with subocular, loreal not bordering the orbit, one row enlarged vertebral scales, five rows keeled mid-dorsal scales at the middle of the body, 189-192 ventral scales and 72-89 subcaudal scales. The dorsal surfaces of the head and body are yellowish red or yellowish brown, and the belly and ventral surfaces of the head and tail are pinkish yellow or yellow with more or less small black spots. Phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial DNA recovered the new species being the sister taxon to P. hamptoni sensu stricto. The genetic divergences between the new species and P. hamptoni sensu stricto were 4.2% in the Cyt b sequences and 5.0% in the ND4 sequences. In addition, based on specimens collected from Honghe and Wenshan prefectures, we confirmed that P. hamptoni sensu stricto is distributed in China.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shuo Liu
- Kunming Natural History Museum of Zoology, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China
| | - Mingzhong Mo
- Honghe Prefecture Forestry and Grassland Bureau of Yunnan Province, Mengzi 661199, China
| | - Mei Li
- Guanyinshan Provincial Nature Reserve Management and Protection Bureau, Yuanyang 662400, China
| | - Biao Li
- Guanyinshan Provincial Nature Reserve Management and Protection Bureau, Yuanyang 662400, China
| | - Xiong Luo
- Guanyinshan Provincial Nature Reserve Management and Protection Bureau, Yuanyang 662400, China
| | - Dingqi Rao
- Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China
| | - Song Li
- Kunming Natural History Museum of Zoology, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Information, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Kane D, Tapley B, LA TVAN, Nguyen LT. A new species of the genus Rhabdophis Fitzinger, 1843 (Squamata: Colubridae) from the Hoang Lien range, northwest Vietnam. Zootaxa 2023; 5343:101-125. [PMID: 38221383 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5343.2.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
We describe a new species of the Natricinae genus Rhabdophis Fitzinger, 1843 from the Hoang Lien range, northwest Vietnam. The new species is distinct from all congeneric species on the grounds of morphometric and molecular data. The new species is most similar to Rhabdophis leonardi in terms of morphology but can be distinguished from it based on differences in maxillary tooth count, scalation, and genetic data. A sequence on GenBank from a Rhabdophis specimen collected in Honghe, Yunnan, China was identical to the species we describe, and it is likely that the new species is not restricted to Vietnam. As a priority, future work should focus on determining the distribution of this species, as well as understanding population and life history traits such as reproductive rate.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Kane
- ZSL London Zoo; Zoological Society of London; Regents Park; London; United Kingdom; NW1 4RY.
| | - Benjamin Tapley
- ZSL London Zoo; Zoological Society of London; Regents Park; London; United Kingdom; NW1 4RY.
| | - Toi VAN LA
- Hoang Lien National Park; Sapa; Lao Cai Province; Vietnam.
| | - Luan Thanh Nguyen
- EDGE of Existence Programme; Zoological Society of London; Regents Park; London; NW1 4RY; United Kingdom; Asian Turtle ProgramIndo-Myanmar Conservation; CT1 Bac Ha C14 Building; To Huu Road; Ha Noi; Vietnam.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Tournayre O, Wolfe R, McCurdy-Adams H, Chabot AA, Lougheed SC. A species-specific digital PCR assay for the endangered blue racer ( Coluber constrictor foxii) in Canada. Genome 2023; 66:251-260. [PMID: 37270848 DOI: 10.1139/gen-2023-0008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The only population of the endangered blue racer (Coluber constrictor foxii) in Canada occurs on Pelee Island, Ontario. The species is threatened by multiple factors, including habitat degradation and loss, road mortality, persecution, and potentially predation. We designed and evaluated the performance of an environmental DNA droplet digital PCR assay that can be used for multiple facets of conservation of this species. We tested the assay in silico and in vitro using DNA of blue racers and co-occurring snake species and estimated the LOD and LOQ using synthetic DNA. As wild turkey predation has been suggested to negatively affect racers, we tested the assay on eight wild turkey faecal samples. Our assay is specific, can detect the target species at very low levels of concentration (0.002 copies/µL), and can accurately quantify copy numbers ≥ 0.26 copies/µL. We detected no racer DNA in any wild turkey faecal sample. More faecal samples collected at strategic locations during snake peak activity on Pelee Island would enable a more thorough assessment of the possibility of turkey predation. Our assay should be effective for other environmental samples and can be used for investigating other factors negatively affecting blue racers, for example, helping to quantify blue racer habitat suitability and site occupancy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Orianne Tournayre
- Biology Department, Queen's University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Ryan Wolfe
- Natural Resource Solutions Inc., Waterloo, ON N2L 3X2, Canada
| | | | - Amy A Chabot
- African Lion Safari, Cambridge, ON N1R 5S2, Canada
| | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
Gong Y, Wu J, Huang S, Xu Y, Yang D, Liu Y, Liang S, Lee P. A New Species of Pareas (Squamata, Pareidae) from Guangxi Province, China. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2233. [PMID: 37444031 DOI: 10.3390/ani13132233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
We described a new species of genus Pareas from Baise City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China, based on morphological and molecular evidence. Pareas baiseensis sp. nov. is distinguished from its congeners by the combination of (1) Yellowish-brown body colouration; (2) Frontal subhexagonal to diamond-shaped with its lateral sides converging posteriorly; (3) The anterior pair of chin shields is longer than it is broad; (4) Loreal not in contact with the eye, prefrontal in contact with the eye, two or three suboculars; (5) Rows of 15-15-15 dorsal scales, five rows of mid-dorsal scales keeled at the middle of the body, one vertebral scale row enlarged; (6) 187-191 ventrals, 89-97 subcaudals, all divided, cloacal plate single; (7) Two postocular stripes, the nuchal area forming a dark black four-pointed fork collar with the middle tines shorter than the outside tines. The genetic divergence (uncorrected p-distance) between the new species and other representatives of Pareas ranged from 13.9% to 24.4% for Cytochrome b (Cyt b) and 12.1% to 25.5% for NADH dehydrogenase subunit 4 (ND4). Phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial DNA gene data recovered the new species from being the sister taxon to (P. boulengeri + P. chinensis) from China.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yanan Gong
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of the Conservation and Exploitation of Biological Resources, College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, China
- Huangshan Noah Biodiversity Institute, Huangshan 245000, China
| | - Jiaxiang Wu
- Huangshan Noah Biodiversity Institute, Huangshan 245000, China
| | - Song Huang
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of the Conservation and Exploitation of Biological Resources, College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, China
- Huangshan Noah Biodiversity Institute, Huangshan 245000, China
| | - Yuhao Xu
- Huangshan Noah Biodiversity Institute, Huangshan 245000, China
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
| | - Diancheng Yang
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of the Conservation and Exploitation of Biological Resources, College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, China
- Huangshan Noah Biodiversity Institute, Huangshan 245000, China
| | - Yongjin Liu
- Nanning Municipal Public Security Bureau, Nanning 530012, China
| | - Shengming Liang
- Huangshan Noah Biodiversity Institute, Huangshan 245000, China
| | - Pingshin Lee
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of the Conservation and Exploitation of Biological Resources, College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, China
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Nuñez LP, Gray LN, Weisrock DW, Burbrink FT. The Phylogenomic and Biogeographic History of the Gartersnakes, Watersnakes, and Allies (Natricidae: Thamnophiini). Mol Phylogenet Evol 2023:107844. [PMID: 37301486 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2023.107844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Revised: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
North American Thamnophiini (gartersnakes, watersnakes, brownsnakes, and swampsnakes) are an ecologically and phenotypically diverse temperate clade of snakes representing 61 species across 10 genera. In this study, we estimate phylogenetic trees using ∼3,700 ultraconserved elements (UCEs) for 76 specimens representing 75% of all Thamnophiini species. We infer phylogenies using multispecies coalescent methods and time calibrate them using the fossil record. We also conducted ancestral area estimation to identify how major biogeographic boundaries in North America affect broadscale diversification in the group. While most nodes exhibited strong statistical support, analysis of concordant data across gene trees reveals substantial heterogeneity. Ancestral area estimation demonstrated that the genus Thamnophis was the only taxon in this subfamily to cross the Western Continental Divide, even as other taxa dispersed southward toward the tropics. Additionally, levels of gene tree discordance are overall higher in transition zones between bioregions, including the Rocky Mountains. Therefore, the Western Continental Divide may be a significant transition zone structuring the diversification of Thamnophiini during the Neogene and Pleistocene. Here we show that despite high levels of discordance across gene trees, we were able to infer a highly resolved and well-supported phylogeny for Thamnophiini, which allows us to understand broadscale patterns of diversity and biogeography.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Leroy P Nuñez
- Department of Herpetology, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, USA; Richard Gilder Graduate School, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Levi N Gray
- Fort Collins Science Center, United States Geological Survey, Guam, USA
| | - David W Weisrock
- Department of Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Frank T Burbrink
- Department of Herpetology, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Cytogenetic Analysis of the Members of the Snake Genera Cylindrophis, Eryx, Python, and Tropidophis. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13071185. [PMID: 35885968 PMCID: PMC9318745 DOI: 10.3390/genes13071185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2022] [Revised: 06/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The recent discovery of two independently evolved XX/XY sex determination systems in the snake genera Python and Boa sparked a new drive to study the evolution of sex chromosomes in poorly studied lineages of snakes, where female heterogamety was previously assumed. Therefore, we examined seven species from the genera Eryx, Cylindrophis, Python, and Tropidophis by conventional and molecular cytogenetic methods. Despite the fact that these species have similar karyotypes in terms of chromosome number and morphology, we detected variability in the distribution of heterochromatin, telomeric repeats, and rDNA loci. Heterochromatic blocks were mainly detected in the centromeric regions in all species, although accumulations were detected in pericentromeric and telomeric regions in a few macrochromosomes in several of the studied species. All species show the expected topology of telomeric repeats at the edge of all chromosomes, with the exception of Eryx muelleri, where additional accumulations were detected in the centromeres of three pairs of macrochromosomes. The rDNA loci accumulate in one pair of microchromosomes in all Eryx species and in Cylindrophis ruffus, in one macrochromosome pair in Tropidophis melanurus and in two pairs of microchromosomes in Python regius. Sex-specific differences were not detected, suggesting that these species likely have homomorphic, poorly differentiated sex chromosomes.
Collapse
|
8
|
Bernstein JM, Ruane S. Maximizing Molecular Data From Low-Quality Fluid-Preserved Specimens in Natural History Collections. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.893088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the past decade, museum genomics studies have focused on obtaining DNA of sufficient quality and quantity for sequencing from fluid-preserved natural history specimens, primarily to be used in systematic studies. While these studies have opened windows to evolutionary and biodiversity knowledge of many species worldwide, published works often focus on the success of these DNA sequencing efforts, which is undoubtedly less common than obtaining minimal or sometimes no DNA or unusable sequence data from specimens in natural history collections. Here, we attempt to obtain and sequence DNA extracts from 115 fresh and 41 degraded samples of homalopsid snakes, as well as from two degraded samples of a poorly known snake, Hydrablabes periops. Hydrablabes has been suggested to belong to at least two different families (Natricidae and Homalopsidae) and with no fresh tissues known to be available, intractable museum specimens currently provide the only opportunity to determine this snake’s taxonomic affinity. Although our aim was to generate a target-capture dataset for these samples, to be included in a broader phylogenetic study, results were less than ideal due to large amounts of missing data, especially using the same downstream methods as with standard, high-quality samples. However, rather than discount results entirely, we used mapping methods with references and pseudoreferences, along with phylogenetic analyses, to maximize any usable molecular data from our sequencing efforts, identify the taxonomic affinity of H. periops, and compare sequencing success between fresh and degraded tissue samples. This resulted in largely complete mitochondrial genomes for five specimens and hundreds to thousands of nuclear loci (ultra-conserved loci, anchored-hybrid enrichment loci, and a variety of loci frequently used in squamate phylogenetic studies) from fluid-preserved snakes, including a specimen of H. periops from the Field Museum of Natural History collection. We combined our H. periops data with previously published genomic and Sanger-sequenced datasets to confirm the familial designation of this taxon, reject previous taxonomic hypotheses, and make biogeographic inferences for Hydrablabes. A second H. periops specimen, despite being seemingly similar for initial raw sequencing results and after being put through the same protocols, resulted in little usable molecular data. We discuss the successes and failures of using different pipelines and methods to maximize the products from these data and provide expectations for others who are looking to use DNA sequencing efforts on specimens that likely have degraded DNA.Life Science Identifier (Hydrablabes periops)urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:F2AA44 E2-D2EF-4747-972A-652C34C2C09D.
Collapse
|
9
|
Rehák I, Fischer D, Kratochvíl L, Rovatsos M. Origin and haplotype diversity of the northernmost population of Podarcis tauricus (Squamata, Lacertidae): Do lizards respond to climate change and go north? Biodivers Data J 2022; 10:e82156. [PMID: 35586255 PMCID: PMC9038855 DOI: 10.3897/bdj.10.e82156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The northernmost population of the Balkan wall lizards, Podarcis tauricus (Pallas, 1814) was recently discovered in the Czech Republic. We studied genetic variability in a mitochondrial marker cytochrome b to shed light on the origin of this remote population. We detected three unique haplotypes, close to those occurring in the populations of Podarcis tauricus from central/north Balkans and Hungary. Our data exclude the hypothesis of a single founder (a randomly or intentionally introduced pregnant female or her progeny) of the Czech population and indicate a native, autochthonous origin of the population or recent introduction/range expansion.
Collapse
|
10
|
Palacios-Aguilar R, Colín-Martínez VH, Hernández-Rubio S, Canseco-Márquez L, Nieto-Montes de Oca A, Ochoa-Ochoa LM. Another case of colour pattern polymorphism in Earth Snakes of the genus Geophis (Dipsadidae) from southern Mexico. J NAT HIST 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2024906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Palacios-Aguilar
- Museo de Zoología “Alfonso L. Herrera”, Departamento de Biología Evolutiva, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de México, México
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Unidad de Posgrado, Edificio A, 1er. Piso, Circuito de Posgrados, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Cuidad de México, México
| | - Víctor H. Colín-Martínez
- Museo de Zoología “Alfonso L. Herrera”, Departamento de Biología Evolutiva, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Salvador Hernández-Rubio
- Museo de Zoología “Alfonso L. Herrera”, Departamento de Biología Evolutiva, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Luis Canseco-Márquez
- Museo de Zoología “Alfonso L. Herrera”, Departamento de Biología Evolutiva, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de México, México
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Unidad de Posgrado, Edificio A, 1er. Piso, Circuito de Posgrados, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Cuidad de México, México
| | - Adrián Nieto-Montes de Oca
- Museo de Zoología “Alfonso L. Herrera”, Departamento de Biología Evolutiva, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Leticia M. Ochoa-Ochoa
- Museo de Zoología “Alfonso L. Herrera”, Departamento de Biología Evolutiva, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de México, México
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Snetsinger M, Row JR, Hazell ME, Plain D, Lougheed SC. Comparing the population structure of the specialist Butler’s Gartersnake (Thamnophis butleri) and the generalist Eastern Gartersnake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis) in Ontario (Canada) and Michigan (USA). CAN J ZOOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2020-0205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Species differing in life-history attributes vary in their responses to features within a shared landscape. We evaluated genetic structure of sympatric gartersnake species in southwestern Ontario (Canada) and southeastern Michigan (USA), where habitat fragmentation is high due to agriculture and urbanization. We surveyed genetic structure of a habitat specialist, Butler’s Gartersnake (Thamnophis butleri (Cope, 1889)), and a habitat generalist, Eastern Gartersnake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis (Linnaeus, 1758)), using DNA microsatellites. Bayesian clustering, discriminant analysis of principal components, and pairwise population comparisons revealed genetic differentiation among three major regional clusters of Butler’s Gartersnake with evidence of further division within one. Genetic clustering of Butler’s Gartersnake suggest that inhospitable habitat limits dispersal. Eastern Gartersnakes showed less structure, with assignment tests implying a single genetic cluster. We found positive significant Mantel’s r for both species in the smallest distance class (<15 km), but significant isolation by distance for Butler’s Gartersnake only. These findings together imply that connectivity for Eastern Gartersnakes is less impacted by habitat loss and fragmentation or that we were less able to detect their effects. Our study shows the value of multispecies comparisons in studies seeking to understand the underlying causes of genetic structure in natural populations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Megan Snetsinger
- Department of Biology, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Jeffrey R. Row
- Minnow Environmental Inc., 2 Lamb Street, Georgetown, ON L7G 3M9, Canada
| | - Megan E. Hazell
- Department of Biology, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Dennis Plain
- Aamjiwnaang First Nation, Band Office, 978 Tashmoo Avenue, Sarnia, ON N7T 7H5, Canada
| | | |
Collapse
|
12
|
Poyarkov NA, Nguyen TV, Pawangkhanant P, Yushchenko PV, Brakels P, Nguyen LH, Nguyen HN, Suwannapoom C, Orlov N, Vogel G. An integrative taxonomic revision of slug-eating snakes (Squamata: Pareidae: Pareineae) reveals unprecedented diversity in Indochina. PeerJ 2022; 10:e12713. [PMID: 35047234 PMCID: PMC8757378 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.12713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Slug-eating snakes of the subfamily Pareinae are an insufficiently studied group of snakes specialized in feeding on terrestrial mollusks. Currently Pareinae encompass three genera with 34 species distributed across the Oriental biogeographic region. Despite the recent significant progress in understanding of Pareinae diversity, the subfamily remains taxonomically challenging. Here we present an updated phylogeny of the subfamily with a comprehensive taxon sampling including 30 currently recognized Pareinae species and several previously unknown candidate species and lineages. Phylogenetic analyses of mtDNA and nuDNA data supported the monophyly of the three genera Asthenodipsas, Aplopeltura, and Pareas. Within both Asthenodipsas and Pareas our analyses recovered deep differentiation with each genus being represented by two morphologically diagnosable clades, which we treat as subgenera. We further apply an integrative taxonomic approach, including analyses of molecular and morphological data, along with examination of available type materials, to address the longstanding taxonomic questions of the subgenus Pareas, and reveal the high level of hidden diversity of these snakes in Indochina. We restrict the distribution of P. carinatus to southern Southeast Asia, and recognize two subspecies within it, including one new subspecies proposed for the populations from Thailand and Myanmar. We further revalidate P. berdmorei, synonymize P. menglaensis with P. berdmorei, and recognize three subspecies within this taxon, including the new subspecies erected for the populations from Laos and Vietnam. Furthermore, we describe two new species of Pareas from Vietnam: one belonging to the P. carinatus group from southern Vietnam, and a new member of the P. nuchalis group from the central Vietnam. We provide new data on P. temporalis, and report on a significant range extension for P. nuchalis. Our phylogeny, along with molecular clock and ancestral area analyses, reveal a complex diversification pattern of Pareinae involving a high degree of sympatry of widespread and endemic species. Our analyses support the "upstream" colonization hypothesis and, thus, the Pareinae appears to have originated in Sundaland during the middle Eocene and then colonized mainland Asia in early Oligocene. Sundaland and Eastern Indochina appear to have played the key roles as the centers of Pareinae diversification. Our results reveal that both vicariance and dispersal are responsible for current distribution patterns of Pareinae, with tectonic movements, orogeny and paleoclimatic shifts being the probable drivers of diversification. Our study brings the total number of Pareidae species to 41 and further highlights the importance of comprehensive taxonomic revisions not only for the better understanding of biodiversity and its evolution, but also for the elaboration of adequate conservation actions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nikolay A. Poyarkov
- Laboratory of Tropical Ecology, Joint Russian-Vietnamese Tropical Research and Technological Center, Hanoi, Vietnam,Faculty of Biology, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Tan Van Nguyen
- Department of Species Conservation, Save Vietnam’s Wildlife, Ninh Binh, Vietnam
| | - Parinya Pawangkhanant
- Division of Fishery, School of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Phayao, Phayao, Thailand
| | - Platon V. Yushchenko
- Faculty of Biology, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | | | - Linh Hoang Nguyen
- Department of Zoology, Southern Institute of Ecology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Hung Ngoc Nguyen
- Department of Zoology, Southern Institute of Ecology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Chatmongkon Suwannapoom
- Division of Fishery, School of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Phayao, Phayao, Thailand
| | - Nikolai Orlov
- Department of Herpetology, Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Gernot Vogel
- Society for Southeast Asian Herpetology, Heidelberg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Hallas JM, Parchman TL, Feldman CR. Phylogenomic analyses resolve relationships among garter snakes (Thamnophis: Natricinae: Colubridae) and elucidate biogeographic history and morphological evolution. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2021; 167:107374. [PMID: 34896619 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2021.107374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Revised: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Garter snakes (Thamnophis) are a successful group of natricines endemic to North America. They have become important natural models for ecological and evolutionary research, yet prior efforts to resolve phylogenetic relationships have resulted in conflicting topologies and weak support for certain relationships. Here, we use genomic data generated with a reduced representation double-digest RADseq approach to reassess evolutionary relationships across Thamnophis. We then use the resulting phylogeny to better understand how biogeography and feeding ecology have influenced lineage diversification and morphological evolution. We recovered highly congruent and strongly supported topologies from maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses, but some discordance with a multispecies coalescent approach. All phylogenomic estimates split Thamnophis into two clades largely defined by northern and southern North American species. Divergence time estimates and biogeographic analyses indicate a mid-Miocene origin of Thamnophis in Mexico. In addition, historic vicariant events thought to explain biogeographic patterns in other lineages (e.g., Isthmus of Tehuantepec, Rocky Mountain Range, and Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt) appear to have influenced patterns of diversification in Thamnophis as well. Analyses of morphological traits associated with feeding ecology showed moderate to strong phylogenetic signal. Nevertheless, phylogenetic ANOVA suggested significant differences in certain cranial morphologies between aquatic specialists and garter snakes that are terrestrial-aquatic generalists, independent of evolutionary history. Our new estimate of Thamnophis phylogeny yields an improved understanding of the biogeographic history and morphological evolution of garter snakes, and provides a robust framework for future research on these snakes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joshua M Hallas
- Department of Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, 1664 North Virginia Street, Reno, NV 89557-0314, USA; Graduate Program in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, 1664 North Virginia Street, Reno, NV 89557-0314, USA.
| | - Thomas L Parchman
- Department of Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, 1664 North Virginia Street, Reno, NV 89557-0314, USA; Graduate Program in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, 1664 North Virginia Street, Reno, NV 89557-0314, USA
| | - Chris R Feldman
- Department of Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, 1664 North Virginia Street, Reno, NV 89557-0314, USA; Graduate Program in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, 1664 North Virginia Street, Reno, NV 89557-0314, USA
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Deepak V, Cooper N, Poyarkov NA, Kraus F, Burin G, Das A, Narayanan S, Streicher JW, Smith SJ, Gower DJ. Multilocus phylogeny, natural history traits and classification of natricine snakes (Serpentes: Natricinae). Zool J Linn Soc 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlab099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Natricine snakes are geographically widespread, species rich (with ~250 extant species) and both morphologically and ecologically diverse. We present a multilocus DNA sequence phylogeny for 249 natricine specimens representing 189 named species, including 69 specimens and 21 species not previously sampled. Our inferred Bayesian and maximum likelihood trees form the basis for evaluations of genus-level classification, historical biogeography, lineage diversification, and dietary, habit and reproductive-mode diversity and evolution, although several, mostly deeper, relationships remain poorly resolved. The optimal trees support natricine origins in Asia, with dispersals to Australo-Melanesia, sub-Saharan Africa (including Seychelles Archipelago, excluding Aldabra), Europe and North Africa and into North and Central America. Viviparity appears to have evolved independently three times in Natricinae but was not significantly associated with an aquatic habit. We found limited associations between habit and diet categories. We propose generic reallocations for four natricine species and highlight other points of uncertainty in natricine classification.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- V Deepak
- Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London, UK
- Senckenberg Dresden, Königsbrücker Landstraße, Dresden, Germany
| | - Natalie Cooper
- Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London, UK
| | - Nikolay A Poyarkov
- Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Biological Faculty, M. V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
- Joint Russian–Vietnamese Tropical Research and Technological Center, Nghia Do, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Fred Kraus
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Gustavo Burin
- Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London, UK
| | - Abhijit Das
- Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun, India
| | - Surya Narayanan
- Suri Sehgal Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Srirampura, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | | | - Sarah-Jane Smith
- Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London, UK
- Imperial College London, South Kensington, London, UK
| | - David J Gower
- Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London, UK
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Faizi H, Rastegar‐Pouyani N, Rastegar‐Pouyani E, Rajabizadeh M, Ilgaz Ç, Candan K, Kumlutaş Y. Molecular phylogeny and systematic of the Schneider's skink
Eumeces schneiderii
(Daudin, 1802) (Squamata: Scincidae). J ZOOL SYST EVOL RES 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/jzs.12533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hiva Faizi
- Department of Biology Faculty of Science Razi University Kermanshah Iran
| | | | | | - Mahdi Rajabizadeh
- Department of Biodiversity Institute of Science and High Technology and Environmental Sciences Graduate University of Advanced Technology Kerman Iran
| | - Çetin Ilgaz
- Department of Biology Faculty of Science Dokuz Eylül University Izmir Turkey
- Fauna and Flora Research and Application Center Dokuz Eylül University İzmir Turkey
| | - Kamil Candan
- Department of Biology Faculty of Science Dokuz Eylül University Izmir Turkey
- Fauna and Flora Research and Application Center Dokuz Eylül University İzmir Turkey
| | - Yusuf Kumlutaş
- Department of Biology Faculty of Science Dokuz Eylül University Izmir Turkey
- Fauna and Flora Research and Application Center Dokuz Eylül University İzmir Turkey
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Zhu G, Yang S, Savitzky AH, Cheng Y, Mori A, Ding L, Rao D, Wang Q. Cryptic diversity and phylogeography of the Rhabdophis nuchalis group (Squamata: Colubridae). Mol Phylogenet Evol 2021; 166:107325. [PMID: 34655748 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2021.107325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2021] [Revised: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Previous studies, have found that the rapid uplift of the Tibetan plateau accelerated the diversification of species. However, there are few relevant biogeographic data for the Colubridae in this region. We conducted a comprehensive study of the Rhabdophis nuchalis Group, which presently contains four nominal species, R. nuchalis, R. pentasupralabialis, R. leonardi, and R. chiwen. Building upon previous studies with specimens we have recently examined, greater interspecific and intraspecific diversity has been revealed. Here we address three questions: (1) Do the intraspecific differences represent only geographic variation within lineages, or are there cryptic species? (2) What are the interspecific relationships among members of the R. nuchalis Group? (3) What has been the biogeographic history of this species group? To resolve these questions we used four mitochondrial gene sequences and one nuclear sequence to investigate the molecular phylogenetic and geographic relationships among populations. Our molecular analysis reveals cryptic species diversity within the R. nuchalis Group, and seven clades were identified in the analysis. Ancestral area estimation suggests that the R. nuchalis Group originated in the Hengduan Mountains approximately 6.24 Mya and expanded its range northward to the Qinling-Daba Mountains. The Sichuan Basin appears to have been a barrier to migration. Species divergence seems to have been related to the rapid uplift of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guangxiang Zhu
- College of Life Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, China.
| | - Shijun Yang
- College of Life Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, China
| | - Alan H Savitzky
- Department of Biology, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322-5305, USA
| | - Yuqi Cheng
- College of Life Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, China
| | - Akira Mori
- Department of Zoology, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Sakyo, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
| | - Li Ding
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Dingqi Rao
- Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China
| | - Qin Wang
- College of Life Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, China.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
García‐Sotelo UA, García‐Vázquez UO, Espinosa D. Historical biogeography of the genus Rhadinaea (Squamata: Dipsadinae). Ecol Evol 2021; 11:12413-12428. [PMID: 34594509 PMCID: PMC8462180 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Revised: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Multiple geological and climatic events have created geographical or ecological barriers associated with speciation events, playing a role in biological diversification in North and Central America. Here, we evaluate the influence of the Neogene and Quaternary geological events, as well as the climatic changes in the diversification of the colubrid snake genus Rhadinaea using molecular dating and ancestral area reconstruction. A multilocus sequence dataset was generated for 37 individuals of Rhadinaea from most of the biogeographical provinces where the genus is distributed, representing 19 of the 21 currently recognized species, and two undescribed species. Our analyses show that the majority of the Rhadinaea species nest in two main clades, herein identified as "Eastern" and "Southern". These clades probably diverged from each other in the early Miocene, and their divergence was followed by 11 divergences during the middle to late Miocene, three divergences during the Pliocene, and six divergences in the Pleistocene. The ancestral distribution of Rhadinaea was reconstructed across the Sierra Madre del Sur. Our phylogenetic analyses do not support the monophyly of Rhadinaea. The Miocene and Pliocene geomorphology, perhaps in conjunction with climate change, appears to have triggered the diversification of the genus, while the climatic changes during the Miocene probably induced the diversification of Rhadinaea in the Sierra Madre del Sur. Our analysis suggests that the uplifting of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt and Chiapan-Guatemalan highlands in this same period resulted in northward and southward colonization events. This was followed by more recent, independent colonization events in the Pliocene and Pleistocene involving the Balsas Basin, Chihuahuan Desert, Pacific Coast, Sierra Madre Occidental, Sierra Madre Oriental, Sierra Madre del Sur, Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, and Veracruz provinces, probably driven by the climatic fluctuations of the time.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Uriel A. García‐Sotelo
- Posgrado en Ciencias BiológicasUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoCiudad de MéxicoMexico
- Facultad de Estudios Superiores ZaragozaUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoCiudad de MéxicoMexico
| | - Uri O. García‐Vázquez
- Facultad de Estudios Superiores ZaragozaUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoCiudad de MéxicoMexico
| | - David Espinosa
- Facultad de Estudios Superiores ZaragozaUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoCiudad de MéxicoMexico
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Moniz HA, Richard MA, Gienger CM, Feldman CR. Every breath you take: assessing metabolic costs of toxin resistance in garter snakes (Thamnophis). Integr Zool 2021; 17:567-580. [PMID: 34254727 DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Trait specialization often comes at the expense of original trait function, potentially causing evolutionary tradeoffs that may render specialist populations vulnerable to extinction. However, many specialized adaptations evolve repeatedly, suggesting selection favors specialization in specific environments. Some garter snake (Thamnophis) populations possess specialized mutations in voltage-gated sodium channels that allow them to consume Pacific newts (Taricha) defended by a highly potent neurotoxin (tetrodotoxin). These mutations, however, also decrease protein and muscle function, suggesting garter snakes may suffer evolutionary tradeoffs. We measured a key physiological process, standard metabolic rate (SMR), to investigate whether specialized adaptations in toxin-resistant garter snakes affect baseline energy expenditure. In snakes, skeletal muscles influence metabolism and power ventilation, so inefficiencies of sodium channels in these muscles might impact whole-animal energy expenditure. Further, because sodium channels are membrane-bound proteins, inefficiencies of channel kinetics and performance might be exacerbated at suboptimal temperatures. We measured SMR in 2 species, Thamnophis atratus and Thamnophis sirtalis, that independently evolved tetrodotoxin resistance through unique mutations, providing replicate experiments with distinct underlying genetics and potential physiological costs. Despite our expectations, neither resistance phenotype nor sodium channel genotype affected metabolism and resistant snakes did not perform worse under suboptimal body temperature. Instead, T. atratus and T. sirtalis show nearly identical rates of mass-adjusted energy expenditure at both temperatures, despite differing eco-morphologies, life histories, and distant phylogenetic positions. These findings suggest SMR may be a conserved feature of Thamnophis, and that any organismal tradeoffs may be compensated to retain whole-animal function.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Haley A Moniz
- Department of Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada, USA.,Program in Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada, USA
| | - Molly A Richard
- Department of Biology and Center of Excellence for Field Biology, Austin Peay State University, Clarksville, Tennessee, USA
| | - C M Gienger
- Department of Biology and Center of Excellence for Field Biology, Austin Peay State University, Clarksville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Chris R Feldman
- Department of Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada, USA.,Program in Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada, USA
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Vogel G, Nguyen TV, Zaw T, Poyarkov NA. A new species of the Pareas monticola complex (Squamata: Serpentes: Pareidae) from Chin Mountains with additions to the Pareas fauna of Myanmar. J NAT HIST 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2020.1856953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Gernot Vogel
- Department of Herpetological Systematics, Society for Southeast Asian Herpetology, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Tan Van Nguyen
- Department of Species Conservation, Save Vietnam’s Wildlife Center, Ninh Binh, Vietnam
| | - Than Zaw
- Department of Zoology, University of Mandalay, Maha Aung Myae, Mandalay, Myanmar
| | - Nikolay A. Poyarkov
- Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Biological Faculty, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
- Laboratory of Tropical Ecology, Joint Russian–Vietnamese Tropical Research and Technological Center, Hanoi, Vietnam
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
On the Identity of Species of Oreobates (Anura: Craugastoridae) from Central South America, with the Description of a New Species from Bolivia. J HERPETOL 2020. [DOI: 10.1670/20-001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
|
21
|
Palacios-Aguilar R, García-Vázquez UO. A partial molecular phylogeny of Rhadinaea and related genera (Squamata, Dipsadidae) with comments on the generic assignment of Rhadinaea eduardoi. Zookeys 2020; 943:145-155. [PMID: 32624678 PMCID: PMC7324407 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.943.50738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The genus Rhadinaea is a diverse clade of New World dipsadid snakes, with 22 species arranged in six recognized species groups. The most recently described species, Rhadinaeaeduardoi, was described based on a unique specimen collected in the Santa Catarina Juquila municipality in the Sierra Madre del Sur of southern Oaxaca, Mexico. Here, based on a reexamination of the holotype and the results of a phylogenetic analysis of the holotype of Rhadinaeaeduardoi and representatives of several genera closely related to Rhadinaea, we reassessed the generic assignment of Rhadinaeaeduardoi. In our phylogenetic hypothesis, R.eduardoi was nested within a strongly supported clade of Coniophanesfissidens samples, thus making Rhadinaea paraphyletic with respect to Coniophanes. Additionally, our reexamination of the holotype of Rhadinaeaeduardoi revealed that the alleged presence of a subpreocular scale is only true on the right side of the head, and that this scale appears to be a malformed preocular scale; also, a reduction in dorsal scale rows is present; and posterior enlarged maxillary teeth are grooved. Herein we consider that Rhadinaeaeduardoi should be placed in the synonymy of Coniophanesfissidens. Consequently, we recognized only five species groups within the genus Rhadinaea.
Collapse
|
22
|
Murtskhvaladze M, Tarkhnishvili D, Anderson CL, Kotorashvili A. Phylogeny of caucasian rock lizards (Darevskia) and other true lizards based on mitogenome analysis: Optimisation of the algorithms and gene selection. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0233680. [PMID: 32511235 PMCID: PMC7279592 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0233680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2019] [Accepted: 05/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
We generated a phylogeny for Caucasian rock lizards (Darevskia), and included six other families of true lizards (Lacertini), based on complete mitochondrial genome analysis. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) of genomic DNA was used to obtain 16 new mitogenomes of Darevskia. These, along with 35 sequences downloaded from GenBank: genera Darevskia, Zootoca, Podarcis, Phoenicolacerta, Takydromus, Lacerta, and Eremias-were used in the analysis. All four analytical methods (Bayesian Inference, BI; Maximum Likelihood, ML; Maximum Parsimony, MP; and Neighbor-Joining, NJ) showed almost congruent intra-generic topologies for Darevskia and other lizard genera. However, ML and NJ methods on one side, and BI and MP methods on the other harvested conflicting phylogenies. The ML/NJ topology supports earlier published separation of Darevskia into three mitochondrial clades (Murphy, Fu, Macculloch, Darevsky, and Kupinova, 2000), but BI and MP topologies support that the basal branching occurred between D. parvula from the western Lesser Caucasus and the rest of Darevskia. All topologies altered the phylogenetic position of some individual species, including D. daghestanica, D. derjugini, and D. chlorogaster. Reanalysis after excluding four saturated genes from the data set, and excluding genus Eremias gives fully convergent topologies. The most basal branching for true lizards was between Far Eastern Takydromus and the Western Eurasian genera (BI). Comparing phylogenetic performance of individual genes relative to whole mitogenome data, concatenated 16S RNA (the least saturated gene in our analyses) and Cytochrome b genes generate a robust phylogeny that is fully congruent with that based on the complete mitogenome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marine Murtskhvaladze
- School of Natural Sciences and Engineering, Ilia State University, Tbilisi, Georgia
- L. Sakvarelidze National Center for Disease Control and Public Health, Tbilisi, Georgia
| | - David Tarkhnishvili
- School of Natural Sciences and Engineering, Ilia State University, Tbilisi, Georgia
| | - Cort L. Anderson
- School of Natural Sciences and Engineering, Ilia State University, Tbilisi, Georgia
| | - Adam Kotorashvili
- L. Sakvarelidze National Center for Disease Control and Public Health, Tbilisi, Georgia
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Manjarrez J, Macías Garcia C, Drummond H. Congenital feeding response to a novel prey in a Mexican gartersnake. PeerJ 2020; 8:e8718. [PMID: 32185111 PMCID: PMC7060902 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.8718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2019] [Accepted: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, we explored chemosensory, ingestive and prey-catching responses of neonate Mexican Black-bellied Gartersnakes (Thamnophis melanogaster) to crayfish (Cambarellus montezumae). By comparing snakes from a recently discovered crayfish-eating population and a typical non-crayfish-eating population, we asked which behavioral components change as a species enlarges its feeding niche. In the crayfish-eating population chemosensory responsiveness to crayfish was not enhanced but its heritability was higher. Neonates of both populations showed similar preference for freshly-molted versus unmolted crayfish, and whereas the tendency to ingest both crayfish stages remained stable between ages 15 and 90 days in the non-crayfish-eating population, in the crayfish-eating population it actually decreased. Techniques to catch and manipulate molted crayfish were similar in the two populations. We discuss the possibility that there is no increase in the behavioral response to eat crayfish by the neonates of the crayfish-eating populations, possibly due to the absence of ecological and spatial isolation between the two T. melanogaster populations. The crayfish ingestion in some population of T. melanogaster can be explained by environmental differences between populations, or by recent origin of crayfish ingestion in T. melanogaster.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Javier Manjarrez
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Toluca, Estado de México, México
| | - Constantino Macías Garcia
- Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Hugh Drummond
- Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Key KN, Banta JA, Gluesenkamp AG, Hertweck KL, Placyk JS. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY OF A SOUTHWESTERN ENDEMIC, THE TEXAS GARTER SNAKE, THAMNOPHIS SIRTALIS ANNECTENS: AN INTEGRATIVE PERSPECTIVE. SOUTHWEST NAT 2019. [DOI: 10.1894/0038-4909-64-1-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kayla N. Key
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, TX 75799 (KNK, JAB, KLH, JSP)
| | - Joshua A. Banta
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, TX 75799 (KNK, JAB, KLH, JSP)
| | | | - Kate L. Hertweck
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, TX 75799 (KNK, JAB, KLH, JSP)
| | - John S. Placyk
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, TX 75799 (KNK, JAB, KLH, JSP)
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Thanou E, Kornilios P, Lymberakis P, Leaché AD. Genomic and mitochondrial evidence of ancient isolations and extreme introgression in the four-lined snake. Curr Zool 2019; 66:99-111. [PMID: 32467710 PMCID: PMC7245017 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoz018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2019] [Accepted: 04/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Comparing mitochondrial and genomic phylogenies is an essential tool for investigating speciation processes, because each genome carries different inheritance properties and evolutionary characteristics. Furthermore, mitonuclear discordance may arise from ecological adaptation, historic isolation, population size changes, and sex-biased dispersal. Closely related taxa are expected to experience gene flow; however, this may not be true for insular populations or populations isolated in refugia. The four-lined snake Elaphe quatuorlineata has a fragmented distribution, separating populations of the Italian and Balkan Peninsulas, whereas several insular Aegean populations of significantly smaller body size (Cyclades island group and Skyros Island, Greece) are currently considered distinct subspecies. We constructed the species-tree phylogeny of this species utilizing genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms and a gene-tree based on complete cytochrome b sequences, aiming to detect convergence and discrepancies between biparentally and maternally inherited genomes. Population structuring, phylogenetic patterns and migration events among geographically defined lineages supported our hypothesis of isolation in multiple sub-refugia. Where biogeographical barriers did not restrict subsequent dispersal, extensive genetic exchange occurred between mainland Balkan populations. This process has led to the mitochondrial sweep of an ancestral mitolineage that survived only in peripheral (East Greece) and insular populations (North Cyclades and Skyros). The Central Cyclades represent an ancient lineage for both molecular markers that emerged almost 3.3 Mya. Considering their distinct morphology, insular E. quatuorlineata populations should be the future focus of an extensive sampling, especially since the mitonuclear discordance observed in this species could be related to ecological adaptations, such as the island-dwarfism phenomenon.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Evanthia Thanou
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.,The Molecular Ecology Backshop, Loutraki, Greece
| | - Panagiotis Kornilios
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.,The Molecular Ecology Backshop, Loutraki, Greece.,Institute of Evolutionary Biology (CSIC - Universitat Pompeu Fabra), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Petros Lymberakis
- Natural History Museum of Crete, University of Crete, Irakleio, Greece
| | - Adam D Leaché
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Valencia-Flores E, Venegas-Barrera CS, Fajardo V, Manjarrez J. Microgeographic variation in body condition of three Mexican garter snakes in central Mexico. PeerJ 2019; 7:e6601. [PMID: 30886780 PMCID: PMC6420799 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.6601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2018] [Accepted: 02/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Geographic variation in body size and condition can reveal differential local adaptation to resource availability or climatic factors. Body size and condition are related to fitness in garter snakes (Thamnophis), thus good body condition may increase survival, fecundity in females, and mating success in males. Phylogenetically related species in sympatry are predicted to exhibit similar body condition when they experience similar environmental conditions. We focused on interspecific and geographical variation in body size and condition in three sympatric Mexican garter snakes from the highlands of Central Mexico. METHODS We assessed SVL, mass, and body condition (obtained from Major axis linear regression of ln-transformed body mass on ln-transformed SVL) in adults and juveniles of both sexes of Thamnophis eques, T. melanogaster, and T. scalaris sampled at different locations and ranges from 3-11 years over a 20-year period. RESULTS We provide a heterogeneous pattern of sexual and ontogenic reproductive status variations of body size and condition among local populations. Each garter snake species shows locations with good and poor body condition; juvenile snakes show similar body condition between populations, adults show varying body condition between populations, and adults also show sex differences in body condition. We discuss variations in body condition as possibly related to the snakes' life cycle differences.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Erika Valencia-Flores
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Toluca, Estado de México, México
| | - Crystian S. Venegas-Barrera
- Tecnológico Nacional de México/Instituto Tecnológico de Ciudad Victoria, Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas, México
| | - Victor Fajardo
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Toluca, Estado de México, Mexico
| | - Javier Manjarrez
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Toluca, Estado de México, México
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Mazzoleni S, Augstenová B, Clemente L, Auer M, Fritz U, Praschag P, Protiva T, Velenský P, Kratochvíl L, Rovatsos M. Turtles of the genera Geoemyda and Pangshura (Testudines: Geoemydidae) lack differentiated sex chromosomes: the end of a 40-year error cascade for Pangshura. PeerJ 2019; 7:e6241. [PMID: 30755825 PMCID: PMC6368832 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.6241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2018] [Accepted: 12/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
For a long time, turtles of the family Geoemydidae have been considered exceptional because representatives of this family were thought to possess a wide variety of sex determination systems. In the present study, we cytogenetically studied Geoemyda spengleri and G. japonica and re-examined the putative presence of sex chromosomes in Pangshura smithii. Karyotypes were examined by assessing the occurrence of constitutive heterochromatin, by comparative genome hybridization and in situ hybridization with repetitive motifs, which are often accumulated on differentiated sex chromosomes in reptiles. We found similar karyotypes, similar distributions of constitutive heterochromatin and a similar topology of tested repetitive motifs for all three species. We did not detect differentiated sex chromosomes in any of the species. For P. smithii, a ZZ/ZW sex determination system, with differentiated sex chromosomes, was described more than 40 years ago, but this finding has never been re-examined and was cited in all reviews of sex determination in reptiles. Here, we show that the identification of sex chromosomes in the original report was based on the erroneous pairing of chromosomes in the karyogram, causing over decades an error cascade regarding the inferences derived from the putative existence of female heterogamety in geoemydid turtles.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Mazzoleni
- Department of Ecology, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | | | - Lorenzo Clemente
- Department of Ecology, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Markus Auer
- Museum of Zoology, Senckenberg, Dresden, Germany
| | - Uwe Fritz
- Museum of Zoology, Senckenberg, Dresden, Germany
| | | | | | | | - Lukáš Kratochvíl
- Department of Ecology, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Michail Rovatsos
- Department of Ecology, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Jablonski D, Nagy ZT, Avcı A, Olgun K, Kukushkin OV, Safaei-Mahroo B, Jandzik D. Cryptic diversity in the smooth snake (Coronella austriaca). AMPHIBIA-REPTILIA 2019. [DOI: 10.1163/15685381-20181025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
The smooth snake, Coronella austriaca, is a common snake species widespread in the Western Palearctic region. It does not form conspicuous morphological variants and, although several evolutionary lineages have been distinguished based on the analyses of the mitochondrial DNA sequences, only two subspecies with very limited distribution have been traditionally recognized. Here we present an mtDNA phylogeography of the species using geographically extended sampling while incorporating biogeographically important areas that have not been analyzed before, such as Anatolia, Crimea, and Iran. We find that the smooth snake comprises 14 distinct phylogenetic clades with unclear mutual relationships, characterized by complex genetic structure and relatively deep divergences; some of them presumably of Miocene origin. In general, the biogeographic pattern is similar to other Western Palearctic reptiles and illustrates the importance of the main European peninsulas as well as the Anatolian mountains, Caucasus, and Alborz Mts. in Iran for the evolution of the present-day diversity. Considerable genetic structure present in the smooth snake populations within these large areas indicates the existence of several regional Plio-Pleistocene refugia that served as reservoirs for dispersal and population expansions after the glacial periods. The current taxonomy of C. austriaca does not reflect the rich genetic diversity, deep divergences, and overall evolutionary history revealed in our study and requires a thorough revision. This will only be possible with an even higher-resolution sampling and integrative approach, combining analyses of multiple genetic loci with morphology, and possibly other aspects of the smooth snake biology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Jablonski
- 1Department of Zoology, Comenius University in Bratislava, Mlynská dolina, Ilkovičova 6, 842 15 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | | | - Aziz Avcı
- 3Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Arts, Adnan Menderes University, 09010 Aydın, Turkey
| | - Kurtuluş Olgun
- 3Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Arts, Adnan Menderes University, 09010 Aydın, Turkey
| | - Oleg V. Kukushkin
- 4Department of Herpetology, Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Universitetskaya emb. 1, 199034 St. Petersburg, Russia
- 5Department of Biodiversity Studies and Ecological Monitoring, T.I. Vyazemsky Karadag Research Station – Nature Reserve of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Nauki 24, 298188 Theodosia, Crimea
| | - Barbod Safaei-Mahroo
- 6Pars Herpetologists Institute, 1st Floor, No. 5, Corner of third Jahad alley, Arash St., Jalal-e Ale-Ahmad Boulevard, Tehran, Iran
| | - David Jandzik
- 1Department of Zoology, Comenius University in Bratislava, Mlynská dolina, Ilkovičova 6, 842 15 Bratislava, Slovakia
- 7Department of Zoology, Charles University in Prague, Vinicna 7, 128 44 Prague, Czech Republic
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Mohan AV, Swamy P, Shanker K. Population structure in the Andaman keelback, Xenochrophis tytleri: geographical distance and oceanic barriers to dispersal influence genetic divergence on the Andaman archipelago. PeerJ 2018; 6:e5752. [PMID: 30324026 PMCID: PMC6183555 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.5752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2018] [Accepted: 09/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Limited gene flow between populations due to geographic distance, presence of barriers or inherent low dispersal ability leads to the formation of genetically structured populations. Strong population structure indicates lowered levels or absence of gene flow which might lead to inbreeding and loss of genetic capacity to recuperate from anthropogenic stress and natural calamities. Terrestrial reptiles are generally known to have low dispersal abilities and few studies have explored drivers of their population structure on continental islands, where both anthropogenic stress and natural calamities are relatively common. We investigated the population structure and drivers of diversification of the Andaman keelback (Xenochrophis tytleri), an endemic, terrestrial and freshwater snake species in the Andaman archipelago, a continental group of islands in the Bay of Bengal. Data was collected from 86 individuals from seven islands and 78 individuals were sequenced for the gene Nuclear Dehydrogenase subunit 4 to identify the number of populations and distribution of genetic diversity across populations. We found 11 haplotypes on seven islands and observed high genetic differentiation between seven populations defined island-wise (F ST = 0.82). We further tested the number of populations by incorporating spatial data into Bayesian Clustering Analysis (GENELAND) and identified six populations of the Andaman keelback. We tested for the influence of Isolation-by-distance on these populations. While the overall trend showed a positive correlation between geographic and genetic distance, a correlogram revealed that the positive correlation disappears beyond ∼20-40 km. We also tested for the presence of geographical barriers to gene flow using Monmonier's algorithm (SPADS), which identified five barriers to dispersal confirming that there are oceanic barriers to dispersal for some island populations of the Andaman keelback. As the Andaman Islands are arranged almost in a straight line from North to South, our data are insufficient to tease apart the roles of geographical distance and barriers to gene flow. We conclude that salt waters between near islands are weak barriers and as the geographical distance between islands increases, so does the strength of the barrier.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ashwini Venkatanarayana Mohan
- Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India.,Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Pondicherry University, Puducherry, India
| | - Priyanka Swamy
- Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
| | - Kartik Shanker
- Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India.,Dakshin Foundation, Bangalore, India
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Takeuchi H, Savitzky AH, Ding L, de Silva A, Das I, Nguyen TT, Tsai T, Jono T, Zhu G, Mahaulpatha D, Tang Y, Mori A. Evolution of nuchal glands, unusual defensive organs of Asian natricine snakes (Serpentes: Colubridae), inferred from a molecular phylogeny. Ecol Evol 2018; 8:10219-10232. [PMID: 30397460 PMCID: PMC6206205 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2017] [Revised: 06/22/2018] [Accepted: 07/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
A large body of evidence indicates that evolutionary innovations of novel organs have facilitated the subsequent diversification of species. Investigation of the evolutionary history of such organs should provide important clues for understanding the basis for species diversification. An Asian natricine snake, Rhabdophis tigrinus, possesses a series of unusual organs, called nuchal glands, which contain cardiotonic steroid toxins known as bufadienolides. Rhabdophis tigrinus sequesters bufadienolides from its toad prey and stores them in the nuchal glands as a defensive mechanism. Among more than 3,500 species of snakes, only 17 Asian natricine species are known to possess nuchal glands or their homologues. These 17 species belong to three nominal genera, Balanophis, Macropisthodon, and Rhabdophis. In Macropisthodon and Rhabdophis, however, species without nuchal glands also exist. To infer the evolutionary history of the nuchal glands, we investigated the molecular phylogenetic relationships among Asian natricine species with and without nuchal glands, based on variations in partial sequences of Mt-CYB, Cmos, and RAG1 (total 2,767 bp). Results show that all species with nuchal glands belong to a single clade (NGC). Therefore, we infer that the common ancestor of this clade possessed nuchal glands with no independent origins of the glands within the members. Our results also imply that some species have secondarily lost the glands. Given the estimated divergence time of related species, the ancestor of the nuchal gland clade emerged 19.18 mya. Our study shows that nuchal glands are fruitful subjects for exploring the evolution of novel organs. In addition, our analysis indicates that reevaluation of the taxonomic status of the genera Balanophis and Macropisthodon is required. We propose to assign all species belonging to the NGC to the genus Rhabdophis, pending further study.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hirohiko Takeuchi
- Seto Marine Biological LaboratoryField Science Education and Research CenterKyoto UniversityShirahamaJapan
- Present address:
College of Bioresource ScienceNihon UniversityFujisawaKanagawaJapan
| | | | - Li Ding
- Chengdu Institute of BiologyChinese Academy of SciencesChengduChina
| | | | - Indraneil Das
- Institute of Biodiversity and Environmental ConservationUniversity Malaysia SarawakSarawakMalaysia
| | - Tao Thien Nguyen
- Vietnam National Museum of NatureVietnam Academy of Science and TechnologyHanoiVietnam
- Graduate University of Science and TechnologyVietnam Academy of Science and TechnologyHanoiVietnam
| | - Tein‐Shun Tsai
- Department of Biological Science and TechnologyNational Pingtung University of Science and TechnologyNeipu TownshipTaiwan
| | - Teppei Jono
- Chengdu Institute of BiologyChinese Academy of SciencesChengduChina
- Present address:
Tropical Biosphere Research CenterUniversity of the RyukyusNishiharaOkinawaJapan
| | - Guang‐Xiang Zhu
- College of Life ScienceSichuan Agricultural UniversityYa'anChina
| | | | - Yezhong Tang
- Chengdu Institute of BiologyChinese Academy of SciencesChengduChina
| | - Akira Mori
- Department of ZoologyGraduate School of ScienceKyoto UniversityKyotoJapan
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Hidden diversity within the depauperate genera of the snake tribe Lampropeltini (Serpentes, Colubridae). Mol Phylogenet Evol 2018; 129:214-225. [PMID: 30189319 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2018.08.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2017] [Revised: 07/31/2018] [Accepted: 08/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Accurate representation of lineage diversity through complete taxon sampling is crucial to understanding the evolution of biodiversity, particularly when using molecular phylogenetics to estimate evolutionary relationships. In this interest, taxonomic diversity is often used as a proxy for lineage diversity even though the two concepts are not synonymous. We explore this within the snake tribe Lampropeltini which includes some of the most conspicuous and heavily studied snakes in North America. Both the taxonomy and hypothesized relationships within this tribe have been in flux. The number of species has increased from 23 to 51 over the last thirty years, predominately within three of the nine genera (Lampropeltis, Pantherophis, Pituophis). The remaining six depauperate genera (Arizona, Bogertophis, Cemophora, Pseudelaphe, Rhinocheilus, and Senticolis) have been poorly represented in phylogenetic studies. To estimate evolutionary relationships and determine if the dichotomy in depauperate and speciose genera within Lampropeltini is a function of taxon sampling or truly represents the lineage diversity, we estimated the phylogeny of this group using nuclear and mitochondrial loci in a concatenated and coalescent framework with the largest sampling of the six depauperate genera to date. In addition, we estimated the divergence dates among the genera to assess whether the instability of Lampropeltini phylogenetic relationships is due to an adaptive radiation. While some nodes still remain unresolved, the generic-level relationships we recovered agree with those of a recent next-generation study that used a much larger set of loci for fewer individuals. We also tested two putative species, Arizona pacata and Pseudelaphe phaescens, for the first time phylogenetically and find evidence that they are distinct lineages. Overall, we find that the taxonomic and genetic diversity are not correlated in Lampropeltini and that representing putative diversity in phylogenies will lead to a better estimate of evolutionary histories, especially in groups with complex radiations.
Collapse
|
32
|
Phylogeography of the Japanese ratsnake, Elaphe climacophora (Serpentes: Colubridae): impacts of Pleistocene climatic oscillations and sea-level fluctuations on geographical range. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2018. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/bly030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
|
33
|
González-Fernández A, Manjarrez J, García-Vázquez U, D'Addario M, Sunny A. Present and future ecological niche modeling of garter snake species from the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt. PeerJ 2018; 6:e4618. [PMID: 29666767 PMCID: PMC5903425 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.4618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2017] [Accepted: 03/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Land use and climate change are affecting the abundance and distribution of species. The Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt (TMVB) is a very diverse region due to geological history, geographic position, and climate. It is also one of the most disturbed regions in Mexico. Reptiles are particularly sensitive to environmental changes due to their low dispersal capacity and thermal ecology. In this study, we define the important environmental variables (considering climate, topography, and land use) and potential distribution (present and future) of the five Thamnophis species present in TMVB. To do so, we used the maximum entropy modeling software (MAXENT). First, we modeled to select the most important variables to explain the distribution of each species, then we modeled again using only the most important variables and projected these models to the future considering a middle-moderate climate change scenario (rcp45), and land use and vegetation variables for the year 2050 (generated according to land use changes that occurred between years 2002 and 2011). Arid vegetation had an important negative effect on habitat suitability for all species, and minimum temperature of the coldest month was important for four of the five species. Thamnophis cyrtopsis was the species with the lowest tolerance to minimum temperatures. The maximum temperature of the warmest month was important for T. scalaris and T. cyrtopsis. Low percentages of agriculture were positive for T. eques and T. melanogaster but, at higher values, agriculture had a negative effect on habitat suitability for both species. Elevation was the most important variable to explain T. eques and T. melanogaster potential distribution while distance to Abies forests was the most important variable for T. scalaris and T. scaliger. All species had a high proportion of their potential distribution in the TMVB. However, according to our models, all Thamnophis species will experience reductions in their potential distribution in this region. T. scalaris will suffer the biggest reduction because this species is limited by high temperatures and will not be able to shift its distribution upward, as it is already present in the highest elevations of the TMVB.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Javier Manjarrez
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Toluca, Estado de México, México
| | - Uri García-Vázquez
- Facultad de Estudios Superiores Zaragoza, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Maristella D'Addario
- Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Biológicas Aplicadas, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Toluca, Estado de México, México
| | - Armando Sunny
- Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Biológicas Aplicadas, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Toluca, Estado de México, México
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Sparkman AM, Chism KR, Bronikowski AM, Brummett LJ, Combrink LL, Davis CL, Holden KG, Kabey NM, Miller DAW. Use of field-portable ultrasonography reveals differences in developmental phenology and maternal egg provisioning in two sympatric viviparous snakes. Ecol Evol 2018; 8:3330-3340. [PMID: 29607028 PMCID: PMC5869298 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.3928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2017] [Revised: 01/17/2018] [Accepted: 01/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
A thorough understanding of the life cycles underlying the demography of wild species is limited by the difficulty of observing hidden life‐history traits, such as embryonic development. Major aspects of embryonic development, such as the rate and timing of development, and maternal–fetal interactions can be critical features of early‐life fitness and may impact population trends via effects on individual survival. While information on development in wild snakes and lizards is particularly limited, the repeated evolution of viviparity and diversity of reproductive mode in this clade make it a valuable subject of study. We used field‐portable ultrasonography to investigate embryonic development in two sympatric garter snake species, Thamnophis sirtalis and Thamnophis elegans in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California. This approach allowed us to examine previously hidden reproductive traits including the timing and annual variation in development and differences in parental investment in young. Both species are viviparous, occupy similar ecological niches, and experience the same annual environmental conditions. We found that T. sirtalis embryos were more developmentally advanced than T. elegans embryos during June of three consecutive years. We also found that eggs increased in volume more substantially across developmental stages in T. elegans than in T. sirtalis, indicating differences in maternal provisioning of embryos via placental transfer of water. These findings shed light on interspecific differences in parental investment and timing of development within the same environmental context and demonstrate the value of field ultrasonography for pursuing questions relating to the evolution of reproductive modes, and the ecology of development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Anne M Bronikowski
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology Iowa State University Ames IA USA
| | | | | | - Courtney L Davis
- Department of Ecosystem Science and Management Pennsylvania State University University Park PA USA.,Intercollege Graduate Ecology Program Pennsylvania State University University Park PA USA
| | - Kaitlyn G Holden
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology Iowa State University Ames IA USA
| | - Nicole M Kabey
- Department of Biology Westmont College Santa Barbara CA USA
| | - David A W Miller
- Department of Ecosystem Science and Management Pennsylvania State University University Park PA USA
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Gonçalves DV, Martínez-Freiría F, Crochet PA, Geniez P, Carranza S, Brito JC. The role of climatic cycles and trans-Saharan migration corridors in species diversification: Biogeography of Psammophis schokari group in North Africa. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2018; 118:64-74. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2017.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2016] [Revised: 09/06/2017] [Accepted: 09/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
|
36
|
Goetz SM, Guyer C, Boback SM, Romagosa CM. Toxic, invasive treefrog creates evolutionary trap for native gartersnakes. Biol Invasions 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-017-1554-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
|
37
|
Manjarrez J, Macías Garcia C, Drummond H. Morphological convergence in a Mexican garter snake associated with the ingestion of a novel prey. Ecol Evol 2017; 7:7178-7186. [PMID: 28944009 PMCID: PMC5606893 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.3265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2017] [Revised: 06/26/2017] [Accepted: 06/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Morphological convergence is expected when organisms which differ in phenotype experience similar functional demands, which lead to similar associations between resource utilization and performance. To consume prey with hard exoskeletons, snakes require either specialized head morphology, or to deal with them when they are vulnerable, for example, during molting. Such attributes may in turn reduce the efficiency with which they prey on soft‐bodied, slippery animals such as fish. Snakes which consume a range of prey may present intermediate morphology, such as that of Thamnophiine (Natricinae), which may be classified morphometrically across the soft–hard prey dietary boundary. In this study, we compared the dentition and head structure of populations of Thamnophis melanogaster that have entered the arthropod–crustacean (crayfish)‐eating niche and those that have not, and tested for convergence between the former and two distantly related crayfish specialists of the genus Regina (R. septemvittata and R. grahamii). As a control, we included the congener T. eques. Multivariate analysis of jaw length, head length, head width, and number of maxillary teeth yielded three significant canonical variables that together explained 98.8% of the variance in the size‐corrected morphological data. The first canonical variable significantly discriminated between the three species. The results show that head dimensions and number of teeth of the two Regina species are more similar to those of crayfish‐eating T. melanogaster than to non‐crayfish‐eating snakes or of T. eques. It is unclear how particular head proportions or teeth number facilitates capture of crayfish, but our results and the rarity of soft crayfish ingestion by T. melanogaster may reflect the novelty of this niche expansion, and are consistent with the hypothesis that some populations of T. melanogaster have converged in their head morphology with the two soft crayfish‐eating Regina species, although we cannot rule out the possibility of a morphological pre‐adaptation to ingest crayfish.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Javier Manjarrez
- Facultad de Ciencias Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México Toluca State of Mexico Mexico
| | | | - Hugh Drummond
- Instituto de Ecología Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Mexico DF Mexico
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Kaito T, Ota H, Toda M. The evolutionary history and taxonomic reevaluation of the Japanese coral snake, Sinomicrurus japonicus(Serpentes, Elapidae), endemic to the Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan, by use of molecular and morphological analyses. J ZOOL SYST EVOL RES 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/jzs.12162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Takuma Kaito
- Graduate School of Engineering and Science; University of the Ryukyus; Nishihara Okinawa Japan
| | - Hidetoshi Ota
- Institute of Natural and Environmental Science; University of Hyogo, and Museum of Nature and Human Activities; Sanda Hyogo Japan
| | - Mamoru Toda
- Tropical Biosphere Research Center; University of the Ryukyus; Nishihara Okinawa Japan
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Kaito T, Toda M. The biogeographical history of Asian keelback snakes of the genusHebius(Squamata: Colubridae: Natricinae) in the Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/bij.12726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Takuma Kaito
- Graduate School of Engineering and Science; University of the Ryukyus; Senbaru 1 Nishihara Okinawa 903-0213 Japan
| | - Mamoru Toda
- Tropical Biosphere Research Center; University of the Ryukyus; Senbaru 1 Nishihara Okinawa 903-0213 Japan
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Mitochondrial divergence between slow- and fast-aging garter snakes. Exp Gerontol 2015; 71:135-46. [PMID: 26403677 DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2015.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2015] [Revised: 09/03/2015] [Accepted: 09/04/2015] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Mitochondrial function has long been hypothesized to be intimately involved in aging processes--either directly through declining efficiency of mitochondrial respiration and ATP production with advancing age, or indirectly, e.g., through increased mitochondrial production of damaging free radicals with age. Yet we lack a comprehensive understanding of the evolution of mitochondrial genotypes and phenotypes across diverse animal models, particularly in species that have extremely labile physiology. Here, we measure mitochondrial genome-types and transcription in ecotypes of garter snakes (Thamnophis elegans) that are adapted to disparate habitats and have diverged in aging rates and lifespans despite residing in close proximity. Using two RNA-seq datasets, we (1) reconstruct the garter snake mitochondrial genome sequence and bioinformatically identify regulatory elements, (2) test for divergence of mitochondrial gene expression between the ecotypes and in response to heat stress, and (3) test for sequence divergence in mitochondrial protein-coding regions in these slow-aging (SA) and fast-aging (FA) naturally occurring ecotypes. At the nucleotide sequence level, we confirmed two (duplicated) mitochondrial control regions one of which contains a glucocorticoid response element (GRE). Gene expression of protein-coding genes was higher in FA snakes relative to SA snakes for most genes, but was neither affected by heat stress nor an interaction between heat stress and ecotype. SA and FA ecotypes had unique mitochondrial haplotypes with amino acid substitutions in both CYTB and ND5. The CYTB amino acid change (Isoleucine → Threonine) was highly segregated between ecotypes. This divergence of mitochondrial haplotypes between SA and FA snakes contrasts with nuclear gene-flow estimates, but correlates with previously reported divergence in mitochondrial function (mitochondrial oxygen consumption, ATP production, and reactive oxygen species consequences).
Collapse
|
41
|
McVay JD, Flores-Villela O, Carstens B. Diversification of North American natricine snakes. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/bij.12558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- John D. McVay
- Department of Biological Sciences; Louisiana State University; Baton Rouge LA 70803 USA
| | - Oscar Flores-Villela
- Facultad de Ciencias; Museo de Zoologia; Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico; Circuito Extrior de CU Mexico DF 04510 Mexico
| | - Bryan Carstens
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology; The Ohio State University; 318 W. 12th Avenue Columbus OH 43210-1293 USA
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
You CW, Poyarkov NA, Lin SM. Diversity of the snail-eating snakesPareas(Serpentes, Pareatidae) from Taiwan. ZOOL SCR 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/zsc.12111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Chung-Wei You
- Department of Life Science; National Taiwan Normal University; Taipei Taiwan
| | - Nikolay A. Poyarkov
- Department of Vertebrate Zoology; Biological Faculty; Lomonosov Moscow State University; Leninskiye Gory, GSP-1 Moscow 119991 Russia
- Joint Russian-Vietnamese Tropical Research and Technological Center; South Branch, 3, Street 3/2, 10 District Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam
| | - Si-Min Lin
- Department of Life Science; National Taiwan Normal University; Taipei Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Manjarrez J, San-Roman-Apolonio E. Timing of Birth and Body Condition in Neonates of Two Gartersnake Species from Central México. HERPETOLOGICA 2015. [DOI: 10.1655/herpetologica-d-13-00098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
|
44
|
Torstrom SM, Pangle KL, Swanson BJ. Shedding subspecies: The influence of genetics on reptile subspecies taxonomy. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2014; 76:134-43. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2014.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2013] [Revised: 03/08/2014] [Accepted: 03/11/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
|
45
|
Jadin RC, Burbrink FT, Rivas GA, Vitt LJ, Barrio-Amorós CL, Guralnick RP. Finding arboreal snakes in an evolutionary tree: phylogenetic placement and systematic revision of the Neotropical birdsnakes. J ZOOL SYST EVOL RES 2013. [DOI: 10.1111/jzs.12055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Robert C. Jadin
- Department of Ecology and Evolution; University of Colorado at Boulder; Boulder CO USA
- Department of Biology; Northeastern Illinois University; Chicago IL USA
| | - Frank T. Burbrink
- Department of Biology; The Graduate School and University Center; The City University of New York; New York NY USA
- Department of Biology; The College of Staten Island; CUNY; Staten Island NY USA
| | - Gilson A. Rivas
- Museo de Biología; Facultad Experimental de Ciencias; La Universidad del Zulia; Maracaibo Venezuela
| | - Laurie J. Vitt
- Sam Noble Museum and Department of Zoology; University of Oklahoma; Norman OK USA
| | | | - Robert P. Guralnick
- Department of Ecology and Evolution; University of Colorado at Boulder; Boulder CO USA
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Kornilios P, Thanou E, Lymberakis P, Sindaco R, Liuzzi C, Giokas S. Mitochondrial phylogeography, intraspecific diversity and phenotypic convergence in the four-lined snake (Reptilia, Squamata). ZOOL SCR 2013. [DOI: 10.1111/zsc.12045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Panagiotis Kornilios
- Section of Animal Biology; Department of Biology; School of Natural Sciences; University of Patras; GR-26500 Patras Greece
| | - Evanthia Thanou
- Section of Animal Biology; Department of Biology; School of Natural Sciences; University of Patras; GR-26500 Patras Greece
| | - Petros Lymberakis
- Natural History Museum of Crete; University of Crete; Knossou Ave. 71409, Crete Irakleio Greece
| | - Roberto Sindaco
- Museo Civico di Storia Naturale; via San Francesco di Sales 88, 10022 Carmagnola Torino Italy
| | - Cristiano Liuzzi
- Riserva Naturale dello Stato Le Cesine Oasi WWF; Masseria Cesine, 73029 Vernole Lecce Italy
| | - Sinos Giokas
- Section of Animal Biology; Department of Biology; School of Natural Sciences; University of Patras; GR-26500 Patras Greece
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
McVay JD, Carstens B. Testing monophyly without well-supported gene trees: Evidence from multi-locus nuclear data conflicts with existing taxonomy in the snake tribe Thamnophiini. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2013; 68:425-31. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2013.04.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2012] [Revised: 04/19/2013] [Accepted: 04/22/2013] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
|
48
|
Evidence of Hybridization between Common Gartersnakes (Thamnophis sirtalis) and Butler's Gartersnakes (Thamnophis butleri) in Wisconsin, USA. J HERPETOL 2013. [DOI: 10.1670/12-057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
|
49
|
Pavón-Vázquez CJ, Canseco-Márquez L, de Oca ANM. A New Species in theGeophis dubiusGroup (Squamata: Colubridae) from Northern Puebla, México. HERPETOLOGICA 2013. [DOI: 10.1655/herpetologica-d-12-00095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
|
50
|
Genetic Analysis and Captive Breeding Program Design for the Eastern Massasauga Sistrurus catenatus catenatus. JOURNAL OF FISH AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT 2013. [DOI: 10.3996/032012-jfwm-026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
The eastern massasauga Sistrurus catenatus catenatus is a declining species for which a captive breeding program was established in 2006. To effectively manage wild and captive populations, an understanding of genetic diversity within the species is necessary. We analyzed mitochondrial DNA sequences of 186 individuals: 109 wild snakes from 34 U.S. and Canadian counties and districts, all 52 breeding program members (23 of known and 29 of unknown origin), 18 other captives of unknown origin, and 7 outgroup representatives of desert massasauga S. c. edwardsii, and western massasauga, S. c. tergeminus. Statistical parsimony, maximum likelihood, and maximum parsimony analyses all identified eastern massasaugas as divergent from western and desert massasaugas. We found 18 different haplotypes among eastern massasaugas, comprising three geographically and genetically differentiated NADH dehydrogenase II (ND2) subunits that potentially reflect post-Pleistocene range expansion from unglaciated into formerly glaciated regions. Snakes of unknown origin could all be assigned unambiguously to these ND2 subunits. To maintain natural genetic variation, preserve diversity in captive lineages, and allow future augmentation or reintroduction, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums is managing these three geographic ND2 subunits separately within the Eastern Massasauga Species Survival Plan breeding program.
Collapse
|