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Robin VV. Population genetics of animals in the wild to aid conservation: Uma Ramakrishnan-Recipient of the 2023 Molecular Ecology Prize. Mol Ecol 2024; 33:e17290. [PMID: 38339857 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Revised: 01/13/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- V V Robin
- IISER Tirupati, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India
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2
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Liu S, Zhou C, Meng G, Wan T, Tang M, Yang C, Murphy RW, Fan Z, Liu Y, Zeng T, Zhao Y, Liu S. Evolution and diversification of Mountain voles (Rodentia: Cricetidae). Commun Biol 2022; 5:1417. [PMID: 36572770 PMCID: PMC9792541 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-04371-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The systematics of the Cricetid genus Neodon have long been fraught with uncertainty due to sampling issues and a lack of comprehensive datasets. To gain better insights into the phylogeny and evolution of Neodon, we systematically sampled Neodon across the Hengduan and Himalayan Mountains, which cover most of its range in China. Analyses of skulls, teeth, and bacular structures revealed 15 distinct patterns corresponding to 15 species of Neodon. In addition to morphological analyses, we generated a high-quality reference genome for the mountain vole and generated whole-genome sequencing data for 47 samples. Phylogenomic analyses supported the recognition of six new species, revealing a long-term underestimation of Neodon diversity. We further identified positively selected genes potentially related to high-elevation adaptation. Together, our results illuminate how climate change caused the plateau to become the centre of Neodon origin and diversification and how mountain voles have adapted to the hypoxic high-altitude plateau environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaoying Liu
- grid.464457.00000 0004 0445 3867Sichuan Academy of Forestry, No.18, Xinhui xilu, Chengdu, 610081 China
| | - Chengran Zhou
- grid.21155.320000 0001 2034 1839BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083 China ,grid.13291.380000 0001 0807 1581Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065 China
| | - Guanliang Meng
- grid.452935.c0000 0001 2216 5875Zoological Research Museum Alexander Koenig, D-53113 Bonn, Germany
| | - Tao Wan
- grid.464457.00000 0004 0445 3867Sichuan Academy of Forestry, No.18, Xinhui xilu, Chengdu, 610081 China
| | - Mingkun Tang
- grid.464457.00000 0004 0445 3867Sichuan Academy of Forestry, No.18, Xinhui xilu, Chengdu, 610081 China
| | - Chentao Yang
- grid.21155.320000 0001 2034 1839BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083 China
| | - Robert W. Murphy
- Reptilia Sanctuary and Education Centre, Concord, ON L4K 2N6 Canada ,grid.421647.20000 0001 2197 9375Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Biology, Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, ON M5S 2C6 Canada
| | - Zhenxin Fan
- grid.13291.380000 0001 0807 1581Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065 China
| | - Yang Liu
- grid.464457.00000 0004 0445 3867Sichuan Academy of Forestry, No.18, Xinhui xilu, Chengdu, 610081 China
| | - Tao Zeng
- grid.13291.380000 0001 0807 1581Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065 China
| | - Yun Zhao
- grid.13291.380000 0001 0807 1581Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065 China
| | - Shanlin Liu
- grid.22935.3f0000 0004 0530 8290Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193 China
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Not all is black and white: phylogeography and population genetics of the endemic blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra). CONSERV GENET 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-022-01479-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
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4
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Wang M, Yan C, Luo A, Li Y, Chesters D, Qiao H, Chen J, Zhou Q, Ma K, Bruelheide H, Schuldt A, Zhang Z, Zhu C. Phylogenetic relatedness, functional traits, and spatial scale determine herbivore co‐occurrence in a subtropical forest. ECOL MONOGR 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ecm.1492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ming‐Qiang Wang
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences 1 Beichen West Road Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101 China
- College of Biological Sciences University of Chinese Academy of Sciences No. 19A Yuquan Road Shijingshan District, Beijing 100049 China
| | - Chuan Yan
- Institute of Innovation Ecology Lanzhou University Lanzhou Gansu 730013 China
| | - Arong Luo
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences 1 Beichen West Road Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101 China
| | - Yi Li
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences 1 Beichen West Road Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101 China
- College of Biological Sciences University of Chinese Academy of Sciences No. 19A Yuquan Road Shijingshan District, Beijing 100049 China
| | - Douglas Chesters
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences 1 Beichen West Road Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101 China
| | - Hui‐Jie Qiao
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences 1 Beichen West Road Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101 China
| | - Jing‐Ting Chen
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences 1 Beichen West Road Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101 China
- College of Biological Sciences University of Chinese Academy of Sciences No. 19A Yuquan Road Shijingshan District, Beijing 100049 China
| | - Qing‐Song Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences 1 Beichen West Road Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101 China
| | - Keping Ma
- Institute of Botany Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100093 China
| | - Helge Bruelheide
- Institute of Biology/Geobotany and Botanical Garden Martin Luther University Halle‐Wittenberg Am Kirchtor 1 Halle 06108 Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle‐Jena‐Leipzig Puschstr. 4 Leipzig 04103 Germany
| | - Andreas Schuldt
- Forest Nature Conservation Georg‐August‐University Goettingen Buesgenweg 3 Goettingen 37077 Germany
| | - Zhibin Zhang
- College of Biological Sciences University of Chinese Academy of Sciences No. 19A Yuquan Road Shijingshan District, Beijing 100049 China
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences 1 Beichen West Road Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101 China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100049 China
| | - Chao‐Dong Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences 1 Beichen West Road Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101 China
- College of Biological Sciences University of Chinese Academy of Sciences No. 19A Yuquan Road Shijingshan District, Beijing 100049 China
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences 1 Beichen West Road Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101 China
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Bharti DK, Edgecombe GD, Karanth KP, Joshi J. Spatial patterns of phylogenetic diversity and endemism in the Western Ghats, India: A case study using ancient predatory arthropods. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:16499-16513. [PMID: 34938452 PMCID: PMC8668739 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Revised: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The Western Ghats (WG) mountain chain in peninsular India is a global biodiversity hotspot, one in which patterns of phylogenetic diversity and endemism remain to be documented across taxa. We used a well-characterized community of ancient soil predatory arthropods from the WG to understand diversity gradients, identify hotspots of endemism and conservation importance, and highlight poorly studied areas with unique biodiversity. We compiled an occurrence dataset for 19 species of scolopendrid centipedes, which was used to predict areas of habitat suitability using bioclimatic and geomorphological variables in Maxent. We used predicted distributions and a time-calibrated species phylogeny to calculate taxonomic and phylogenetic indices of diversity, endemism, and turnover. We observed a decreasing latitudinal gradient in taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity in the WG, which supports expectations from the latitudinal diversity gradient. The southern WG had the highest phylogenetic diversity and endemism, and was represented by lineages with long branch lengths as observed from relative phylogenetic diversity/endemism. These results indicate the persistence of lineages over evolutionary time in the southern WG and are consistent with predictions from the southern WG refuge hypothesis. The northern WG, despite having low phylogenetic diversity, had high values of phylogenetic endemism represented by distinct lineages as inferred from relative phylogenetic endemism. The distinct endemic lineages in this subregion might be adapted to life in lateritic plateaus characterized by poor soil conditions and high seasonality. Sites across an important biogeographic break, the Palghat Gap, broadly grouped separately in comparisons of species turnover along the WG. The southern WG and Nilgiris, adjoining the Palghat Gap, harbor unique centipede communities, where the causal role of climate or dispersal barriers in shaping diversity remains to be investigated. Our results highlight the need to use phylogeny and distribution data while assessing diversity and endemism patterns in the WG.
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Affiliation(s)
- D. K. Bharti
- CSIR‐Centre for Cellular and Molecular BiologyUppal RoadHyderabadIndia
| | | | | | - Jahnavi Joshi
- CSIR‐Centre for Cellular and Molecular BiologyUppal RoadHyderabadIndia
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Large-scale spatial patterns of small-mammal communities in the Mediterranean region revealed by Barn owl diet. Sci Rep 2021; 11:4985. [PMID: 33654215 PMCID: PMC7970837 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-84683-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Due to mainly opportunistic hunting behaviour of Barn owl can be its diet composition used for assessing local structure of small-mammal community. We evaluated the structure of small-mammal communities in the Mediterranean region by analysing Barn owl diet using own pellets and literature data (85 localities comprising 182,343 prey individuals). Contrary to widely accepted macroecological theory, we found a latitudinal increase of small-mammal alpha diversity, a less distinct west–east increase and lower diversity on islands. The mean prey weight decreased with increasing latitude, while on islands it decreased with increasing island area. The mean prey weight on islands was further negatively affected by mean land modification by human and positively affected by its range. The diet diversity on islands was not affected either by island area or its distance from the mainland. Its composition largely conformed to the main pattern pronounced over whole the region: an unexpected homogeneity of small-mammal community structure. Despite high beta diversity and large between-sample variation in species composition, Crocidura (+ Suncus etruscus) and murids (Apodemus, Mus, Rattus, in marginal regions partly replaced by gerbillids, Meriones or Microtus) composed more than 90% of owl prey in 92% of samples. Peak abundances of these widespread species are associated with a dynamic mosaic of dense patches of sparse herb vegetation and evergreen sclerophyllous shrublands interspersing areas of human activity, the dominant habitat of the inner Mediterranean and richest food resource for foraging Barn owls. The respective small-mammal species can be looked upon as invasive elements accompanying large scale human colonization of the region since the Neolithic and replacing original island biota. Our study documented that desertification of the Mediterranean played an important role in shaping inverse latitudinal gradient in diversity of small-mammals that contradicts to widely accepted mecroecological theory.
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Garg KM, Chattopadhyay B. Gene Flow in Volant Vertebrates: Species Biology, Ecology and Climate Change. J Indian Inst Sci 2021; 101:165-176. [PMID: 34155425 PMCID: PMC8207815 DOI: 10.1007/s41745-021-00239-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Gene flow, the exchange of genetic material between populations is an important biological process, which shapes and maintains biodiversity. The successful movement of individuals between populations depends on multiple factors determined by species biology and the environment. One of the most important factors regulating gene flow is the ability to move, and flight allows individuals to easily move across geographical barriers. Volant vertebrates are found on some of the remotest islands and contribute significantly to the biodiversity and ecosystem. The availability of next-generation sequencing data for non-model animals has substantially improved our understanding of gene flow and its consequences, allowing us to look at fine-scale patterns. However, most of our understanding regarding gene flow comes from the temperate regions and the Neotropics. The lack of studies from species-rich Asia is striking. In this review, we outline the importance of gene flow and the factors affecting gene flow, especially for volant vertebrates. We especially discuss research studies from tropical biomes of South and Southeast Asia, highlight the lacuna in literature and provide an outline for future studies in this species-rich region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kritika M. Garg
- grid.418831.70000 0004 0500 991XInstitute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology, Bengaluru, Karnataka India ,grid.449178.70000 0004 5894 7096Department of Biology, Ashoka University, Sonipat, Haryana India
| | - Balaji Chattopadhyay
- grid.449178.70000 0004 5894 7096Trivedi School of Biosciences, Ashoka University, Sonipat, Haryana India
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8
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Cai H, Lyu L, Shrestha N, Tang Z, Su X, Xu X, Dimitrov D, Wang Z. Geographical patterns in phylogenetic diversity of Chinese woody plants and its application for conservation planning. DIVERS DISTRIB 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.13180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Hongyu Cai
- Institute of Ecology and Key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes of the Ministry of Education College of Urban and Environmental Sciences Peking University Beijing China
| | - Lisha Lyu
- Institute of Ecology and Key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes of the Ministry of Education College of Urban and Environmental Sciences Peking University Beijing China
- School of Urban Planning and Design Shenzhen Graduate School Peking University Shenzhen China
- Landscape Ecology Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems ETH Zürich Zürich Switzerland
- Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL Birmensdorf Switzerland
| | - Nawal Shrestha
- Institute of Ecology and Key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes of the Ministry of Education College of Urban and Environmental Sciences Peking University Beijing China
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro‐Ecosystem Institute of Innovation Ecology Lanzhou University Lanzhou China
| | - Zhiyao Tang
- Institute of Ecology and Key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes of the Ministry of Education College of Urban and Environmental Sciences Peking University Beijing China
| | - Xiangyan Su
- Institute of Ecology and Key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes of the Ministry of Education College of Urban and Environmental Sciences Peking University Beijing China
| | - Xiaoting Xu
- Key Laboratory of Bio‐Resource and Eco‐Environment of Ministry of Education College of Life Sciences Sichuan University Chengdu China
| | - Dimitar Dimitrov
- Natural History Museum University of Oslo Oslo Norway
- Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen Copenhagen Denmark
- Department of Natural History University Museum of Bergen University of Bergen Bergen Norway
| | - Zhiheng Wang
- Institute of Ecology and Key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes of the Ministry of Education College of Urban and Environmental Sciences Peking University Beijing China
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Dutt Joshi B, Jabin G, Sharief A, Kumar V, Mukherjee T, Kumar M, Singh A, Kumar Singh S, Chandra K, Sharma LK, Thakur M. Genetic evidence for allopatric speciation of the Siberian ibex Capra sibirica in India. ENDANGER SPECIES RES 2020. [DOI: 10.3354/esr01034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Montane systems, formed by a series of climatic oscillations and temporal topographic metamorphoses, have broken up the contiguous distribution of widespread species and accelerated allopatric speciation. We used a partial fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome b (cytb) gene to address speciation across the entire range of the Siberian ibex Capra sibirica. We demonstrated that the Siberian ibex is a polytypic species, plausibly formed by a combination of at least 2 species and/or 3 to 4 sub-species. Bayesian phylogeny showed that the Indian-Tajikistan (I-T) clade is adequately diverged from the other clades based on the mean intra-specific distance criterion, and warrants recognition as a distinct species. We provide pragmatic evidence for the endorsement of the I-T clade as a distinct species of Siberian ibex and urge prioritization of the conservation of this species at global and regional scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Dutt Joshi
- Zoological Survey of India, New Alipore, Kolkata, 700053 West Bengal, India
| | - G Jabin
- Zoological Survey of India, New Alipore, Kolkata, 700053 West Bengal, India
- Department of Zoology, University of Calcutta, Kolkata, 700019 West Bengal, India
| | - A Sharief
- Zoological Survey of India, New Alipore, Kolkata, 700053 West Bengal, India
| | - V Kumar
- Zoological Survey of India, New Alipore, Kolkata, 700053 West Bengal, India
| | - T Mukherjee
- Zoological Survey of India, New Alipore, Kolkata, 700053 West Bengal, India
| | - M Kumar
- Zoological Survey of India, New Alipore, Kolkata, 700053 West Bengal, India
| | - A Singh
- Zoological Survey of India, New Alipore, Kolkata, 700053 West Bengal, India
| | - S Kumar Singh
- Zoological Survey of India, New Alipore, Kolkata, 700053 West Bengal, India
| | - K Chandra
- Zoological Survey of India, New Alipore, Kolkata, 700053 West Bengal, India
| | - LK Sharma
- Zoological Survey of India, New Alipore, Kolkata, 700053 West Bengal, India
| | - M Thakur
- Zoological Survey of India, New Alipore, Kolkata, 700053 West Bengal, India
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Lavin BR, Girman DJ. Phylogenetic relationships and divergence dating in the Glass Lizards (Anguinae). Mol Phylogenet Evol 2018; 133:128-140. [PMID: 30584918 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2018.12.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2017] [Revised: 12/14/2018] [Accepted: 12/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The Glass Lizards are a subfamily (Anguinae) of Anguid Lizards with an elongated limbless body plan that occur throughout the Northern Hemisphere primarily in North America, Europe, and Asia, but also have a presence in North Africa and Indonesia. We used twenty-five nuclear loci (15,191 bp) and 2090 bp of the mtDNA genome to generate a phylogeny containing all known species groups to explore species relationships within the group as well as divergence dating. We also examined the group in the context of a coalescent species tree analysis and species delimitation. All major lineages were found to be monophyletic with potential cryptic diversity in some. The Anguinae first appeared in the Eocene and most lineages were present by the beginning of the Miocene. The Anguinae originated in Europe from an Anguidae ancestor that crossed the Thulean land bridge, spreading to Asia after the drying of the Turgai Sea, then across Beringia as the climate permitted. A species tree analyses found support for the major Anguinae lineages and species delimitation supported accepted species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian R Lavin
- Department of Biology, Sonoma State University, 1801 East Cotati Ave, Rohnert Park, CA 94928, USA.
| | - Derek J Girman
- Department of Biology, Sonoma State University, 1801 East Cotati Ave, Rohnert Park, CA 94928, USA.
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An endemic rat species complex is evidence of moderate environmental changes in the terrestrial biodiversity centre of China through the late Quaternary. Sci Rep 2017; 7:46127. [PMID: 28393882 PMCID: PMC5385558 DOI: 10.1038/srep46127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2016] [Accepted: 03/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The underlying mechanisms that allow the Hengduan Mountains (HDM), the terrestrial biodiversity centre of China, to harbour high levels of species diversity remain poorly understood. Here, we sought to explore the biogeographic history of the endemic rat, Niviventer andersoni species complex (NASC), and to understand the long-term persistence of high species diversity in this region. In contrast to previous studies that have proposed regional refuges in eastern or southern of the HDM and emphasized the influence of climatic oscillations on local vertebrates, we found that HDM as a whole acted as refuge for the NASC and that the historical range shifts of NASC mainly occurred in the marginal regions. Demographic analyses revealed slight recent population decline in Yunnan and south-eastern Tibet, whereas of the populations in Sichuan and of the entire NASC were stable. This pattern differs greatly from classic paradigms of temperate or alpine and holarctic species. Interestingly, the mean elevation, area and climate of potential habitats of clade a (N. excelsior), an alpine inhabitant, showed larger variations than did those of clade b (N. andersoni), a middle-high altitude inhabitant. These species represent the evolutionary history of montane small mammals in regions that were less affected by the Quaternary climatic changes.
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12
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Patterns of Species Richness and Turnover for the South American Rodent Fauna. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0151895. [PMID: 26999278 PMCID: PMC4801412 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0151895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2016] [Accepted: 03/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the spatial distribution of species sheds light on the group’s biogeographical history, offers clues to the drivers of diversity, and helps to guide conservation strategies. Here, we compile geographic range information for South America’s diverse rodents, whose 14 families comprise ~50% of the continent’s mammalian species. The South American rodent fauna is dominated by independent and temporally staggered radiations of caviomorph and sigmodontine groups. We mapped species richness and turnover of all rodents and the principal clades to identify the main predictors of diversity patterns. Species richness was highest in the Andes, with a secondary hotspot in Atlantic Forest and some regions of considerable richness in Amazonia. Differences in richness were evident between the caviomorphs and sigmodontines, the former showing the greatest richness in tropical forests whereas the latter show—and largely determine—the all-rodent pattern. Elevation was the main predictor of sigmodontine richness, whereas temperature was the principal variable correlated with richness of caviomorphs. Across clades, species turnover was highest along the Andes and was best explained by elevational relief. In South America, the effects of the familiar latitudinal gradient in species richness are mixed with a strong longitudinal effect, triggered by the importance of elevation and the position of the Andes. Both latitudinal and elevational effects help explain the complicated distribution of rodent diversity across the continent. The continent’s restricted-range species—those seemingly most vulnerable to localized disturbance—are mostly distributed along the Andes and in Atlantic Forest, with the greatest concentration in Ecuador. Both the Andes and Atlantic Forest are known hotspots for other faunal and floral components. Contrasting patterns of the older caviomorph and younger sigmodontine radiations underscore the interplay of both historical and ecological factors in determining present-day diversity patterns.
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14
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Toussaint EFA, Condamine FL. To what extent do new fossil discoveries change our understanding of clade evolution? A cautionary tale from burying beetles (Coleoptera:Nicrophorus). Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/bij.12710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel F. A. Toussaint
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology & Division of Entomology; Biodiversity Institute; University of Kansas; Lawrence KS 66045 USA
| | - Fabien L. Condamine
- Department of Biological Sciences; University of Alberta; Edmonton AB T6G 2E9 Canada
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