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Liu Y, Bu Y, Wang J, Wei C. Geological events and climate change drive diversification and speciation of mute cicadas in eastern continental Asia. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2023; 184:107809. [PMID: 37172861 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2023.107809] [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: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
The poor mobility of nymphs living underground, usually for many years and the weak flying ability of adults make cicadas unique for evolutionary biology and bio-geographical study. Cicadas of the genus Karenia are unusual in Cicadidae in lacking the timbals that produce sound. Population differentiation, genetic structure, dispersal and evolutionary history of the eastern Asian mute cicada Karenia caelatata were investigated based on morphological, acoustic and molecular data. The results reveal a high level of genetic differentiation in this species. Six independent clades with nearly unique sets of haplotypes corresponding to geographically isolated populations are recognized. Genetic and geographic distances are significantly correlated among lineages. The phenotypic differentiation is generally consistent with the high levels of genetic divergence across populations. Results of ecological niche modeling suggest that the potential distribution range of this mountain-habitat specialist during the Last Glacial Maximum was broader than its current range, indicating this species had benefited from the climate change during the early Pleistocene in southern China. Geological events such as orogeny in Southwest China and Pleistocene climate oscillations have driven the differentiation and divergence of this species, and basins, plains and rivers function as natural "barriers" to block the gene flow. Besides significant genetic divergence being found among clades, the populations occurring in the Wuyi Mountains and the Hengduan Mountains are significantly different in the calling song structure from other populations. This may have resulted from significant population differentiation and subsequent adaptation of related populations. We conclude that ecological differences in habitats, coupled with geographical isolation, have driven population divergence and allopatric speciation. This study provides a plausible example of incipient speciation in Cicadidae and improves understanding of population differentiation, acoustic signal diversification and phylogeographic relationships of this unusual cicada species. It informs future studies on population differentiation, speciation and phylogeography of other mountain-habitat insects in the East Asian continent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunxiang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Plant Protection Resources and Pest Management of the Ministry of Education, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China; State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Qinghai University, Xining, Qinghai 810016, China
| | - Yifan Bu
- College of Life Science, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Jiali Wang
- Key Laboratory of Plant Protection Resources and Pest Management of the Ministry of Education, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Cong Wei
- Key Laboratory of Plant Protection Resources and Pest Management of the Ministry of Education, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.
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2
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Wu N, Wang S, Dujsebayeva TN, Chen D, Ali A, Guo X. Geography and past climate changes have shaped the evolution of a widespread lizard in arid Central Asia. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2023; 184:107781. [PMID: 37044189 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2023.107781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023]
Abstract
The complex orogenic history and structure of Central Asia, coupled with Pleistocene glacial cycles have generated its stepwise aridification. Such events would have significantly influenced the evolution of many mid-latitude species in arid Central Asia (ACA). In this study, we employed two mitochondrial genes (CO1 and ND2) and genome-wide SNPs, coupled with ecological niche modeling, to investigate the lineage diversification and historical demography within a widespread lizard Phrynocepahlus helioscopus, and their associations with geography and past climate change. We obtained themtDNA dataset for 300 individuals from 96 localities within the known range of the lizard, among which 51 individuals from 27 localities were selected for generating the SNP dataset via genotyping-by-sequencing approach. Phylogenetic analyses of the concatenated mtDNA dataset revealed eight geographically correlated lineages that diverged by 4.21-10.41% for the CO1 gene, which were estimated to have coalesced ∼4.47 million years ago. However, we observed mito-nuclear discordance pattern regarding the population of Clade V (P. helioscopus sergeevi) from Tajikistan. Ancestral area estimations suggested that P. helioscopus originated from the Fergana Valley and then dispersed into the adjacent areas in ACA along with a history of multiple allopatric divergence processes, suggesting that Fergana may have been the cradle of diversification of P. helioscopus. The intensification of aridification across Central Asia during the Late Pliocene may have facilitated the rapid radiation of this arid-adapted lizard throughout this vast territory. Subsequently, the geological events (e.g., uplift of the Hissar-Alay, transgressions of the Caspian Sea) and geographic barriers (e.g., Amu Darya River, Zerarshan River) during the Pleistocene triggered the progressive diversification of P. helioscopus. Interestingly, Clade VIII (P. helioscopus varius) experienced rapid population growth coupled with range expansion while Clade IV (P. helioscopus cameranoi) underwent drastic population expansion associated with range contraction during the Last Glacial Maximum. In Clade IV, but not in Clade VIII, environmental turnover contributes more to mitochondrial genetic distinctiveness than geographic distance. Overall, the SNP dataset demonstrates that geographic distance plays a greater role than environmental distance. Both the mtDNA dataset and the SNP dataset suggest local-scale genetic differentiation in Clade IV and Clade VIII, revealing potential geographic barriers in the Ili River Valley and the Junggar Basin, respectively. Twenty-seven outlier SNPs associated with environmental factors (precipitation and temperature) were identified, which supports the signature of local adaptation to the arid desert environment. Finally, our finding suggests taxonomic implications, such as support for full species status for P. saidalievi (Clade II) and P. meridionalis (Clade I). Future analyses based on further evidence and increased taxon and geographic sampling should be carried out to corroborate our findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Wu
- Chengdu Institute of Biology Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Song Wang
- Chengdu Institute of Biology Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Tatjana N Dujsebayeva
- Laboratory of Ornithology and Herpetology, Institute of Zoology, Ministry of Sciences and High Education of Republic of Kazakhstan, Almaty 050060, Kazakhstan
| | - Dali Chen
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Abid Ali
- Chengdu Institute of Biology Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xianguang Guo
- Chengdu Institute of Biology Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China.
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3
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Ambu J, Martínez-Solano Í, Suchan T, Hernandez A, Wielstra B, Crochet PA, Dufresnes C. Genomic phylogeography illuminates deep cyto-nuclear discordances in midwife toads (Alytes). Mol Phylogenet Evol 2023; 183:107783. [PMID: 37044190 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2023.107783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023]
Abstract
The advent of genomic methods allows us to revisit the evolutionary history of organismal groups for which robust phylogenies are still lacking, particularly in species complexes that frequently hybridize. In this study, we conduct RAD-sequencing (RAD-seq) analyses of midwife toads (genus Alytes), an iconic group of western Mediterranean amphibians famous for their parental care behavior, but equally infamous for the difficulties to reconstruct their evolutionary history. Through admixture and phylogenetic analyses of thousands of loci, we provide the most comprehensive phylogeographic framework for the A. obstetricans complex to date, as well as the first fully resolved phylogeny for the entire genus. As part of this effort, we carefully explore the influence of different sampling schemes and data filtering thresholds on tree reconstruction, showing that several, slightly different, yet robust topologies may be retrieved with small datasets obtained by stringent SNP calling parameters, especially when admixed individuals are included. In contrast, analyses of incomplete but larger datasets converged on the same phylogeny, irrespective of the reconstruction method used or the proportion of missing data. The Alytes tree features three Miocene-diverged clades corresponding to the proposed subgenera Ammoryctis (A. cisternasii), Baleaphryne (A. maurus, A. dickhilleni and A. muletensis), and Alytes (A. obstetricans complex). The latter consists of six evolutionary lineages, grouped into three clades of Pliocene origin, and currently delimited as two species: (1) A. almogavarii almogavarii and A. a. inigoi; (2) A. obstetricans obstetricans and A. o. pertinax; (3) A. o. boscai and an undescribed taxon (A. o. cf. boscai). These results contradict the mitochondrial tree, due to past mitochondrial captures in A. a. almogavarii (central Pyrenees) and A. o. boscai (central Iberia) by A. obstetricans ancestors during the Pleistocene. Patterns of admixture between subspecies appear far more extensive than previously assumed from microsatellites, causing nomenclatural uncertainties, and even underlying the reticulate evolution of one taxon (A. o. pertinax). All Ammoryctis and Baleaphryne species form shallow clades, so their taxonomy should remain stable. Amid the prevalence of cyto-nuclear discordance among terrestrial vertebrates and the usual lack of resolution of conventional nuclear markers, our study advocates for phylogeography based on next-generation sequencing, but also encourages properly exploring parameter space and sampling schemes when building and analyzing genomic datasets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Ambu
- LASER, College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Íñigo Martínez-Solano
- Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Tomasz Suchan
- W. Szafer Institute of Botany, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Poland
| | - Axel Hernandez
- LASER, College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Ben Wielstra
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, P.O. Box 9517, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands; Institute of Biology Leiden, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9505, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | - Christophe Dufresnes
- LASER, College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
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Quiroga-Carmona M, Abud C, Lessa EP, D’Elía G. The Mitochondrial Genetic Diversity of the Olive Field Mouse Abrothrix olivacea (Cricetidae; Abrotrichini) is Latitudinally Structured Across Its Geographic Distribution. J MAMM EVOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10914-021-09582-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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5
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Yang W, Feiner N, Salvi D, Laakkonen H, Jablonski D, Pinho C, Carretero MA, Sacchi R, Zuffi MAL, Scali S, Plavos K, Pafilis P, Poulakakis N, Lymberakis P, Jandzik D, Schulte U, Aubret F, Badiane A, Perez I de Lanuza G, Abalos J, While GM, Uller T. Population genomics of wall lizards reflects the dynamic history of the Mediterranean Basin. Mol Biol Evol 2021; 39:6413643. [PMID: 34718699 PMCID: PMC8760935 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msab311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The Mediterranean Basin has experienced extensive change in geology and climate over the past six million years. Yet, the relative importance of key geological events for the distribution and genetic structure of the Mediterranean fauna remains poorly understood. Here, we use population genomic and phylogenomic analyses to establish the evolutionary history and genetic structure of common wall lizards (Podarcis muralis). This species is particularly informative because, in contrast to other Mediterranean lizards, it is widespread across the Iberian, Italian, and Balkan Peninsulas, and in extra-Mediterranean regions. We found strong support for six major lineages within P. muralis, which were largely discordant with the phylogenetic relationship of mitochondrial DNA. The most recent common ancestor of extant P. muralis was likely distributed in the Italian Peninsula, and experienced an “Out-of-Italy” expansion following the Messinian salinity crisis (∼5 Mya), resulting in the differentiation into the extant lineages on the Iberian, Italian, and Balkan Peninsulas. Introgression analysis revealed that both inter- and intraspecific gene flows have been pervasive throughout the evolutionary history of P. muralis. For example, the Southern Italy lineage has a hybrid origin, formed through admixture between the Central Italy lineage and an ancient lineage that was the sister to all other P. muralis. More recent genetic differentiation is associated with the onset of the Quaternary glaciations, which influenced population dynamics and genetic diversity of contemporary lineages. These results demonstrate the pervasive role of Mediterranean geology and climate for the evolutionary history and population genetic structure of extant species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weizhao Yang
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, 223 62, Sweden
| | - Nathalie Feiner
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, 223 62, Sweden
| | - Daniele Salvi
- Department of Health, Life and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, 67100, Italy Coppito L'Aquila
| | - Hanna Laakkonen
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, 223 62, Sweden
| | - Daniel Jablonski
- Department of Zoology, Comenius University, Ilkovičova 6, 842 15, Slovakia in Bratislava, Bratislava
| | - Catarina Pinho
- CIBIO/InBIO Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, Universidade do Porto, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Miguel A Carretero
- CIBIO/InBIO Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, Universidade do Porto, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal.,Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto, R. Campo Alegre, s/n, Porto, 4169 - 007, Portugal
| | - Roberto Sacchi
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, 27100, Italy
| | - Marco A L Zuffi
- Museum Natural History, University of Pisa, Pisa, 56011, Italy
| | - Stefano Scali
- Museum of Natural History of Milan, Milano, 20121, Italy
| | | | - Panayiotis Pafilis
- National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, School of Science, Faculty of Biology, Panepistimiopolis 15701, Athens, Greece
| | - Nikos Poulakakis
- Natural History Museum of Crete, School of Sciences and Engineering, University of Crete, Knossos Avenue, Heraklion, 71409, Greece.,Biology Department, School of Sciences and Engineering, University of Crete, Voutes University Campus, Heraklion, 70013, Greece.,Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB), Heraklion, 70013, GreeceFoundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH)
| | - Petros Lymberakis
- Natural History Museum of Crete, School of Sciences and Engineering, University of Crete, Knossos Avenue, Heraklion, 71409, Greece
| | - David Jandzik
- Department of Zoology, Comenius University, Ilkovičova 6, 842 15, Slovakia in Bratislava, Bratislava
| | - Ulrich Schulte
- Büro für Faunistische Gutachten-Dr. Ulrich Schulte, Kaiserstraße 2, Borgholzhausen, 33829, Germany
| | - Fabien Aubret
- Station d'Ecologie Théorique et Expérimentale, CNRS, 09200, Moulis, France.,School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, WA, 6102, Australia
| | - Arnaud Badiane
- IMBE, Aix-Marseille Université, Avignon Université, CNRS, IRD, Marseille, France
| | - Guillem Perez I de Lanuza
- Institut Cavanilles de Biodiversitat i Biologia Evolutiva, Universitat de València, Valencia, APT. 22085, 46071, Spain
| | - Javier Abalos
- Institut Cavanilles de Biodiversitat i Biologia Evolutiva, Universitat de València, Valencia, APT. 22085, 46071, Spain
| | - Geoffrey M While
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Sandy Bay, Tasmania, 7005, Australia
| | - Tobias Uller
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, 223 62, Sweden
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6
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Xu L, Yu R, Lin X, Zhang B, Li N, Lin K, Zhang D, Bai W. Different rates of pollen and seed gene flow cause branch-length and geographic cytonuclear discordance within Asian butternuts. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2021; 232:388-403. [PMID: 34143496 PMCID: PMC8519134 DOI: 10.1111/nph.17564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 06/13/2021] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Topological cytonuclear discordance is commonly observed in plant phylogenetic and phylogeographic studies, yet few studies have attempted to detect two other forms of cytonuclear discordance (branch length and geographical) and to uncover the causes of the discordance. We used the whole nuclear and chloroplast genome data from 80 individual Asian butternuts to reveal the pattern and processes of cytonuclear discordance. Our findings indicate that the chloroplast genome had substantially deeper divergence (branch-length discordance) and a steeper cline in the contact zone (geographic discordance) compared with the nuclear genome. After various hypothesis have been tested, the results suggest that incomplete lineage sorting, positive selection and cytonuclear incompatibility are probably insufficient to explain this pattern. However, isolation-by-distance analysis and gene flow estimation point to a much higher level of gene flow by pollen compared with by seeds, which may have slowed down lineage divergence and mediated wider contact for nuclear genome compared with the chloroplast genome. Altogether, this study highlights a critical role of sex-biased dispersal in causing discordance between the nuclear and plastid genome of Asian butternuts. Given its ubiquity among plants, asymmetric gene flow should be given a high priority in future studies of cytonuclear discordance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin‐Lin Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology and Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological EngineeringCollege of Life SciencesBeijing Normal UniversityBeijing100875China
| | - Rui‐Min Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology and Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological EngineeringCollege of Life SciencesBeijing Normal UniversityBeijing100875China
| | - Xin‐Rui Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology and Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological EngineeringCollege of Life SciencesBeijing Normal UniversityBeijing100875China
| | - Bo‐Wen Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology and Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological EngineeringCollege of Life SciencesBeijing Normal UniversityBeijing100875China
- Centre for Individualised Infection Medicine (CiiM) & TWINCOREJoint ventures between the Helmholtz‐Centre for Infection Research (HZI) and the Hannover Medical School (MHH)Hannover30625Germany
| | - Nan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology and Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological EngineeringCollege of Life SciencesBeijing Normal UniversityBeijing100875China
| | - Kui Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology and Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological EngineeringCollege of Life SciencesBeijing Normal UniversityBeijing100875China
| | - Da‐Yong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology and Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological EngineeringCollege of Life SciencesBeijing Normal UniversityBeijing100875China
| | - Wei‐Ning Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology and Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological EngineeringCollege of Life SciencesBeijing Normal UniversityBeijing100875China
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7
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Nandakumar M, Ishtiaq F. Genetic drift and bottleneck do not influence diversity in Toll-like receptor genes at a small spatial scale in a Himalayan passerine. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:12246-12263. [PMID: 33209285 PMCID: PMC7663051 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6855] [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: 03/30/2020] [Revised: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic diversity is important for long-term viability of a population. Low genetic diversity reduces persistence and survival of populations and increases susceptibility to diseases. Comparisons of the neutral markers with functional loci such as immune genes [Toll-like receptors; TLR] can provide useful insights into evolutionary potential of a species and how the diversity of pathogens and selection pressures on their hosts are directly linked to their environment. In this study, we compare genetic diversity in neutral (eleven microsatellite loci) and adaptive (seven TLR loci) loci to determine genetic variation in a nonmigratory western Himalayan passerine, the black-throated tit (Aegithalos concinnus), distributed across an elevation gradient with varying degree of pathogen-mediated selection pressure. We further compare the diversity in TLR loci with a high-elevation sister species, the white-throated tit (Aegithalos niveogularis). Our results indicate a lack of population genetic structure in the black-throated tit and signatures of a past bottleneck. In contrast, we found high diversity in TLR loci and locus-specific (TLR7) signatures of pathogen-mediated selection, which was comparable to diversity in the white-throated tit. Levels of diversity at TLR5 locus corresponded very closely with neutral microsatellite variation. We found evidence of positive selection in TLR1LA, TLR5, and TLR7 loci highlighting the importance in pathogen recognition. Our finding demonstrates that reduction in neutral variation does not necessarily lead to reduction in functional genetic diversity and probably helps in revival of population in a widespread species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mridula Nandakumar
- Centre for Ecological SciencesIndian Institute of ScienceBangaloreIndia
- Present address:
Department of BiologyLund UniversityLundSweden
| | - Farah Ishtiaq
- Centre for Ecological SciencesIndian Institute of ScienceBangaloreIndia
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8
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Alström P, van Linschooten J, Donald PF, Sundev G, Mohammadi Z, Ghorbani F, Shafaeipour A, van den Berg A, Robb M, Aliabadian M, Wei C, Lei F, Oxelman B, Olsson U. Multiple species delimitation approaches applied to the avian lark genus Alaudala. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2020; 154:106994. [PMID: 33250446 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2020.106994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2020] [Revised: 10/18/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Species delimitation has advanced from a purely phenotypic exercise to a branch of science that integrates multiple sources of data to identify independently evolving lineages that can be treated as species. We here test species limits in the avian Lesser Short-toed Lark Alaudala rufesens-Sand Lark A. raytal complex, which has an intricate taxonomic history, ranging from a single to three recognised species, with different inclusiveness in different treatments. Our integrative taxonomic approach is based on a combination of DNA sequences, plumage, biometrics, songs, song-flights, geographical distributions, habitat, and bioclimatic data, and using various methods including a species delimitation program (STACEY) based on the multispecies coalescent model. We propose that four species should be recognised: Lesser Short-toed Lark A. rufescens (sensu stricto), Heine's Short-toed Lark A. heinei, Asian Short-toed Lark A. cheleensis and Sand Lark A. raytal. There is also some evidence suggesting lineage separation within A. cheleensis and A. raytal, but additional data are required to evaluate this. The species delimitation based on STACEY agrees well with the non-genetic data. Although computer-based species delimitation programs can be useful in identifying independently evolving lineages, we stress that whenever possible, species hypotheses proposed by these programs should be tested by independent, non-genetic data. Our results highlight the difficulty and subjectivity of delimiting lineages and species, especially at early stages in the speciation process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Per Alström
- Animal Ecology, Department of Ecology and Genetics, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18 D, SE-752 36 Uppsala, Sweden; Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
| | - Jip van Linschooten
- Animal Ecology, Department of Ecology and Genetics, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18 D, SE-752 36 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Paul F Donald
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, UK
| | - Gombobaatar Sundev
- National University of Mongolia and Mongolian Ornithological Society, P.O. Box 537, Ulaanbaatar 210646a, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
| | - Zeinolabedin Mohammadi
- Department of Biology and Research Department of Zoological Innovation, Institute of Applied Zoology, Faculty of Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Ghorbani
- Department of Biology and Research Department of Zoological Innovation, Institute of Applied Zoology, Faculty of Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Arya Shafaeipour
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Yasouj University, Yasouj, Iran
| | - Arnoud van den Berg
- The Sound Approach, c/o Duinlustparkweg 98, 2082 EG Santpoort-Zuid, the Netherlands
| | - Magnus Robb
- The Sound Approach, c/o Rua Dr Pedro Almeida Lima 6, 2710-122 Sintra, Portugal
| | - Mansour Aliabadian
- Department of Biology and Research Department of Zoological Innovation, Institute of Applied Zoology, Faculty of Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Chentao Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Department of Ecology, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Fumin Lei
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Bengt Oxelman
- Systematics and Biodiversity, Department of Biology and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Box 463, SE-405 30 Göteborg, Sweden; Gothenburg Global Biodiversity Centre, Box 461, SE-405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Urban Olsson
- Systematics and Biodiversity, Department of Biology and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Box 463, SE-405 30 Göteborg, Sweden; Gothenburg Global Biodiversity Centre, Box 461, SE-405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
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9
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Streicher JW, Day JJ. The toad's warts: Discordance creates bumpy expectations of mitochondrial-nuclear evolution between species. Mol Ecol 2020; 29:3400-3402. [PMID: 32743830 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Discordance between the mitochondrial and nuclear genomes is a prevalent phenomenon in nature, in which the underlying processes responsible are considered to be important in shaping genetic variation in natural populations. Among the evolutionary processes that best explain such genomic mismatches incomplete lineage sorting and introgression are commonly identified, however, many studies are unable to distinguish between these hypotheses, which has become a major challenge in the field. In this issue of Molecular Ecology, Firneno et al. (2020) present an elegant exploration of mitochondrial-nuclear discordance in Mesoamerican toads. Integrating genome-scale and spatial data to test between these hypotheses within an empirical model testing framework, they find strong support that incomplete lineage sorting explains the observed discordance. Their work, along with many previous articles in Molecular Ecology, highlights the commonality of mito-nuclear discordance among species despite the expectations of tightly concerted mitochondrial and nuclear genome evolution. It is increasingly clear that the nuclear genomes of many species are (at least for short periods of evolutionary time) functionally compatible with multiple, divergent mitochondrial haplotypes. As such, we suggest future research not only seeks to understand the processes causing spatial mito-nuclear discordance (e.g. incomplete lineage sorting, introgression), but also explores those that maintain discordance through time and space (e.g. relaxed selection on mito-nuclear interactions, heterozygosity, population demographics). We also discuss the vital role that taxonomy plays in interpreting patterns of mito-nuclear discordance when data-consistent yet differing taxonomies are used, such as treating allopatrically distributed taxa as multiple isolated populations versus multiple micro-endemic species.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Julia J Day
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, UK
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10
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Dufresnes C, Nicieza AG, Litvinchuk SN, Rodrigues N, Jeffries DL, Vences M, Perrin N, Martínez-Solano Í. Are glacial refugia hotspots of speciation and cytonuclear discordances? Answers from the genomic phylogeography of Spanish common frogs. Mol Ecol 2020; 29:986-1000. [PMID: 32012388 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2019] [Revised: 01/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Subdivided Pleistocene glacial refugia, best known as "refugia within refugia", provided opportunities for diverging populations to evolve into incipient species and/or to hybridize and merge following range shifts tracking the climatic fluctuations, potentially promoting extensive cytonuclear discordances and "ghost" mtDNA lineages. Here, we tested which of these opposing evolutionary outcomes prevails in northern Iberian areas hosting multiple historical refugia of common frogs (Rana cf. temporaria), based on a genomic phylogeography approach (mtDNA barcoding and RAD-sequencing). We found evidence for both incipient speciation events and massive cytonuclear discordances. On the one hand, populations from northwestern Spain (Galicia and Asturias, assigned to the regional endemic R. parvipalmata), are deeply-diverged at mitochondrial and nuclear genomes (~4 My of independent evolution), and barely admix with northeastern populations (assigned to R. temporaria sensu stricto) across a narrow hybrid zone (~25 km) located in the Cantabrian Mountains, suggesting that they represent distinct species. On the other hand, the most divergent mtDNA clade, widespread in Cantabria and the Basque country, shares its nuclear genome with other R. temporaria s. s. lineages. Patterns of population expansions and isolation-by-distance among these populations are consistent with past mitochondrial capture and/or drift in generating and maintaining this ghost mitochondrial lineage. This remarkable case study emphasizes the complex evolutionary history that shaped the present genetic diversity of refugial populations, and stresses the need to revisit their phylogeography by genomic approaches, in order to make informed taxonomic inferences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christophe Dufresnes
- LASER, College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China.,Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Alfredo G Nicieza
- Department of Organisms and Systems Biology, University of Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain.,Research Unit of Biodiversity (UMIB, CSIC-UO-PA), Mieres, Spain
| | - Spartak N Litvinchuk
- Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Saint Petersburg, Russia.,Dagestan State University, Makhachkala, Russia
| | - Nicolas Rodrigues
- Department of Ecology & Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Daniel L Jeffries
- Department of Ecology & Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Miguel Vences
- Zoological Institute, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Nicolas Perrin
- Department of Ecology & Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Íñigo Martínez-Solano
- Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
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11
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Dufresnes C, Mazepa G, Jablonski D, Oliveira RC, Wenseleers T, Shabanov DA, Auer M, Ernst R, Koch C, Ramírez-Chaves HE, Mulder KP, Simonov E, Tiutenko A, Kryvokhyzha D, Wennekes PL, Zinenko OI, Korshunov OV, Al-Johany AM, Peregontsev EA, Masroor R, Betto-Colliard C, Denoël M, Borkin LJ, Skorinov DV, Pasynkova RA, Mazanaeva LF, Rosanov JM, Dubey S, Litvinchuk S. Fifteen shades of green: The evolution of Bufotes toads revisited. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2019; 141:106615. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2019.106615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2019] [Revised: 08/14/2019] [Accepted: 09/10/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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12
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Li J, Lv L, Wang P, Wang Y, Hatchwell BJ, Zhang Z. Sex-biased dispersal patterns of a social passerine: complementary approaches and evidence for a role of spatial scale. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blz122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
AbstractAnimal dispersal patterns have important implications for many biological processes, but the measurement of dispersal is challenging and often requires the use of complementary approaches. In this study, we investigated the local-scale sex-biased dispersal pattern in a social bird, the black-throated tit (Aegithalos concinnus), in central China. Spatial genetic autocorrelation analyses suggested that significant fine-scale genetic structure existed in males but not in females. Mark–recapture analyses of ringed individuals also showed that female offspring were more dispersive than male offspring, supporting genetic evidence of local female-biased dispersal. These results were contrary to a previous finding of male-biased long-distance dispersal in this species that was based on analyses of gene flow across the species range in China. This implies that the species might potentially have a scale-dependent dispersal strategy, with females frequently dispersing further than males at the local level, but with a proportion of males occasionally dispersing over long distances and contributing more to gene flow at a larger geographical scale. Long-distance dispersal by male black-throated tits might be induced by competition for resources or by unfavourable environmental conditions, warranting further investigation, but our findings increase the evidence that geographical scale is an important factor to be considered when investigating animal dispersal patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianqiang Li
- School of Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Lei Lv
- School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Pengcheng Wang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Sciences and Ecological Engineering, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Yong Wang
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, School of Agricultural, Life and Natural Sciences, Alabama A&M University, Normal, AL, USA
| | - Ben J Hatchwell
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Zhengwang Zhang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Sciences and Ecological Engineering, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
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13
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Zhang D, Tang L, Cheng Y, Hao Y, Xiong Y, Song G, Qu Y, Rheindt FE, Alström P, Jia C, Lei F. 'Ghost introgression' as a cause of deep mitochondrial divergence in a bird species complex. Mol Biol Evol 2019; 36:2375-2386. [PMID: 31364717 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msz170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2019] [Revised: 05/15/2019] [Accepted: 07/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In the absence of nuclear-genomic differentiation between two populations, deep mitochondrial divergence (DMD) is a form of mito-nuclear discordance. Such instances of DMD are rare and might variably be explained by unusual cases of female-linked selection, by male-biased dispersal, by 'speciation reversal' or by mitochondrial capture through genetic introgression. Here we analyze DMD in an Asian Phylloscopus leaf warbler (Aves: Phylloscopidae) complex. Bioacoustic, morphological and genomic data demonstrate close similarity between the taxa affinis and occisinensis, even though DMD previously led to their classification as two distinct species. Using population genomic and comparative genomic methods on 45 whole genomes, including historical reconstructions of effective population size, genomic peaks of differentiation and genomic linkage, we infer that the form affinis is likely the product of a westward expansion in which it replaced a now-extinct congener that was the donor of its mtDNA and small portions of its nuclear genome. This study provides strong evidence of 'ghost introgression' as the cause of DMD, and we suggest that 'ghost introgression' may be a widely overlooked phenomenon in nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dezhi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Linfang Tang
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yalin Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yan Hao
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ying Xiong
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Gang Song
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yanhua Qu
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Frank E Rheindt
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Republic of Singapore
| | - Per Alström
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,Animal Ecology, Department of Ecology and Genetics, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18 D, Uppsala, Sweden.,Swedish Species Information Centre, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7007, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Chenxi Jia
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Fumin Lei
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
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14
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Dai C, Hao Y, He Y, Lei F. The absence of reproductive isolation between non-sister and deeply diverged mitochondrial lineages of the black-throated tit (Aegithalos concinnus) revealed by a multilocus genetic analysis in a contact zone. BMC Evol Biol 2017; 17:266. [PMID: 29262786 PMCID: PMC5738821 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-017-1114-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2017] [Accepted: 12/11/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A deep divergence of mitochondrial DNA is common in species delimitated by morphological traits. Several hypotheses can explain such variations, such as cryptic species, introgression, allopatric divergence and ancestral lineage. The black-throated tit harbors several deeply divergent mitochondrial lineages. Two lineages with 5% divergence, but having a high level of gene flow, have been detected in its subspecies, A. C. concinnus and A. c. talifuenses. In this study, we conducted a genetic analysis at a contact zone of these two lineages to identify whether these lineages either reflect a high level of intraspecific variation in mitochondrial loci or represent incipient speciation. Mitochondrial ND2 and 11 microsatellite loci were used to conduct phylogenetic and population structure analyses. RESULTS ND2 haplotypes actually diverged into two groups within subspecies A. c. talifuenses; however, they formed a non-sister relationship when including all available GenBank ND2 sequences. Analyses of microsatellite data indicated no existing population structure and showed a pattern of isolation by distance. Individuals sampled at the contact zone were almost identified as F2 hybrids. CONCLUSIONS Isolation for 2.4 Ma, as suggested by a previous study, appeared to be insufficient to develop robust reproductive barriers. Reproductive barriers were weak, or even absent between the divergent lineages, highlighting that incipient speciation was unlikely to be the case. Considering the results from previous studies, the divergent lineages may be better explained by secondary contact after allopatric isolation because of Pleistocene climate changes, but other hypotheses cannot be definitively ruled out because of the lack of representative samples from the other distribution region and its relatives. Considering that divergence in morphology was hardly observed and the particular split in genetics, the two subspecies might be better merged. The current findings also highlight the likely contribution of male-biased dispersal to male-biased gene flow among mitochondrial lineages; more efforts are needed to illustrate the evolutionary history of the black-throated tit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuanyin Dai
- School of Chemistry and Life Sciences, Guizhou Normal College, Gaoxin Road 115, Guiyang, Guizhou 550018 China
| | - Yan Hao
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beichen Xi Road 1, Beijing, 100101 China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049 China
| | - Yong He
- School of Chemistry and Life Sciences, Guizhou Normal College, Gaoxin Road 115, Guiyang, Guizhou 550018 China
| | - Fumin Lei
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beichen Xi Road 1, Beijing, 100101 China
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15
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Wang X, Kong L, Chen J, Matsukuma A, Li Q. Phylogeography of bivalve Meretrix petechialis in the Northwestern Pacific indicated by mitochondrial and nuclear DNA data. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0183221. [PMID: 28813498 PMCID: PMC5558932 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0183221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2016] [Accepted: 08/01/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The marine clam Meretrix petechialis is an important economic shellfish species in Northwestern Pacific, but little is known about its phylogeographical pattern. Here, we analyzed 311 samples from 22 locations along the northwestern Pacific using combined profiling of one mitochondrial gene (the first subunit of cytochrome coxidase, COI) and one nuclear DNA marker (the internal transcribed spacer region 1, ITS-1) to investigate contemporary genetic structure and reconstruct phylogenetic history of this species. The results revealed that two distinct phylogeographic lineages dominated marginal seas-the East China Sea (ECS) and the South China Sea (SCS) respectively. The estimation of divergence time between two lineages was 2.1-3.8 Ma, corresponding to a period of the early Pleistocene to late Pliocene. The vicariance of the two lineages was connected to the historical isolation of marginal seas and sea surface temperature (SST) gradient, pointing that SST might play an important role in maintaining phylogeographical patterns of M. petachialis. Significant overlaps between two lineages were observed in 23° to 29° N, located at the adjacent area of the ECS and SCS, which might be promoted by the connectivity of China Coast Current. However, the influence of ocean currents on mixings between two lineages was limited. In comparison, significant relationships were found between genetic distances and geographic distances if the North and South populations were analyzed separately, result of which might be due to some small reciprocal, rotating flows along coastal areas and special geographical conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxuan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Lingfeng Kong
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
- * E-mail:
| | - Jun Chen
- Institute of Geology and Paleontology, Linyi University, Linyi, China
| | - Akihiko Matsukuma
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Qi Li
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
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16
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No facultative manipulation of offspring sex ratio in relation to parental genetic characteristics in a bird with sex-specific heterozygosity-fitness correlation. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-016-2119-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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17
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Weston KA, Robertson BC. Population structure within an alpine archipelago: strong signature of past climate change in the New Zealand rock wren (Xenicus gilviventris). Mol Ecol 2015; 24:4778-94. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.13349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2014] [Revised: 08/07/2015] [Accepted: 08/17/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- K. A. Weston
- Department of Zoology; University of Otago; PO Box 56 Dunedin 9054 New Zealand
| | - B. C. Robertson
- Department of Zoology; University of Otago; PO Box 56 Dunedin 9054 New Zealand
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18
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Lei F, Qu Y, Song G, Alström P, Fjeldså J. The potential drivers in forming avian biodiversity hotspots in the East Himalaya Mountains of Southwest China. Integr Zool 2015; 10:171-81. [PMID: 25316284 DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Little has been published to describe or interpret Asian biodiversity hotspots, including those in the East Himalayan Mountains of Southwest China (HMSC), thus making necessary a review of the current knowledge. The Pliocene and Pleistocene geological and glacial histories of the Asian continent differ from those of Europe and North America, suggesting different mechanisms of speciation and extinction, and, thus, different responses to climate changes during the Quaternary glaciations. This short review summarizes potential drivers in shaping and maintaining high species richness and endemism of birds in the HMSC. The geographical location at the junction of different biogeographical realms, the wide range of habitats and climates along the extensive elevational range, the complex topography and the distinct geological history of this region have probably contributed to the evolution of an exceptionally species-rich and endemic-rich, specialized montane avian fauna. The Mountain systems in the HMSC may have provided refugia where species survived during the glacial periods and barriers for preventing species dispersal after the glacial periods. More studies are required to further test this refugia hypothesis by comparing more cold-tolerent and warm-tolerent species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fumin Lei
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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