Journal ArticleDOI
Phylogeography of Middle American gophersnakes: mixed responses to biogeographical barriers across the Mexican Transition Zone
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TLDR
Inferences of phylogeographical structure and estimates of divergence times for three species of gophersnakes distributed across the Mexican Transition Zone are used to evaluate the postulated association of three Neogene geological events and Pleistocene climate change with inter‐ and intraspecific diversification.Abstract:
Aim We used inferences of phylogeographical structure and estimates of divergence times for three species of gophersnakes (Colubridae: Pituophis) distributed across the Mexican Transition Zone (MTZ) to evaluate the postulated association of three Neogene geological events (marine seaway inundation of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, formation of the Transvolcanic Belt across central Mexico, and secondary uplifting of the Sierra Madre Occidental) and of Pleistocene climate change with inter- and intraspecific diversification
Location Mexico, Guatemala, and the western United States
Methods We combined range-wide sampling (67 individuals representing three putative species distributed across northern Middle America and western North America) and phylogenetic analyses of 1637 base pairs of mitochondrial DNA to estimate genealogical relationships and divergence times The hypothesized concordance of inferred gene trees with geological histories was assessed using topology tests
Results We identified three major lineages of Middle American gophersnakes, and strong phylogeographical structure within each lineage Gene trees were statistically congruent with hypothesized geological histories for two of the three postulated geological events Estimated divergence dates and the geographical distribution of genetic variation further support mixed responses to these geological events Considerable phylogeographical structure appears to have been generated during the Pleistocene
Main conclusions Phylogenetic and phylogeographical structure in gophersnakes distributed across northern Middle America and western North America highlights the influence of both Neogene vicariance events and Pleistocene climate change in shaping genetic diversity in this region Despite the presence of two major geographical barriers in southern Mexico, extreme geological and environmental heterogeneity in this area may have differentially structured genetic diversity in highland taxa To the north, co-distributed taxa may display a more predictable pattern of diversification across the warm desert regions Future studies should incorporate nuclear data to disentangle inferred lineage boundaries and further elucidate patterns of mitochondrial introgressionread more
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Journal Article
Accounting for calibration uncertainty in phylogenetic estimation of evolutionary divergence times
TL;DR: A variety of local and relaxed clock methods have been proposed and implemented for phylogenetic divergence dating as discussed by the authors, which allows different molecular clocks in different parts of the phylogenetic tree, thereby retaining the advantages of the classical molecular clock while casting off the restrictive assumption of a single, global rate of substitution.
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Coalescent Species Delimitation in Milksnakes (Genus Lampropeltis) and Impacts on Phylogenetic Comparative Analyses
Sara Ruane,Sara Ruane,Robert W. Bryson,R. Alexander Pyron,Frank T. Burbrink,Frank T. Burbrink +5 more
TL;DR: This study examines how delimitation of previously unrecognized diversity in the milksnake (Lampropeltis triangulum) and use of a species-tree approach affects both estimation of the Lampropelti phylogeny and comparative analyses with respect to the timing of diversification.
Journal ArticleDOI
An analytical review of Halffter's Mexican transition zone, and its relevance for evolutionary biogeography, ecology and biogeographical regionalization.
Gonzalo Halffter,Juan J. Morrone +1 more
TL;DR: The Mexican transition zone (MTZ) is the complex area where the Neotropical and Nearctic biotas overlap, including south-western United States, Mexico and a large part of Central America extending to the Nicaraguan lowlands, according to Halffter's theory explaining the biotic evolution of the MTZ.
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Consensus between genes and stones in the biogeographic and evolutionary history of Central America
TL;DR: It is proposed as three evolutionary groups: Mayan, characterized by marked genetic structure and divergence, multiple refugia and formation of cryptic species; Mid-CA, defined by high differentiation at the population level and between highland and lowlands, associated with intense volcanic activity; 3) Panamian, distinguished by migration from north to south and vice versa via de IP, with markedly high species divergence and speciation.
Book ChapterDOI
The Generation of a Biodiversity Hotspot: Biogeography and Phylogeography of the Western Indian Ocean Islands
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TL;DR: The importance of islands in revealing evolutionary processes was highlighted already at the birth of evolutionary biology as a science (Darwin 1859; Darwin and Wallace 1858), since the thrilling discoveries revealed by Darwin’s work on the Galapagos and Wallace's work in the Malay (Indonesian) archipelago (Wallace 1876) has experienced an explosive growth.
References
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