Diversification processes in Gerp's mouse lemur demonstrate the importance of rivers and altitude as biogeographic barriers in Madagascar's humid rainforests.

Autor: van Elst T; Institute of Zoology University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation Hannover Germany., Schüßler D; Research Group Vegetation Ecology and Nature Conservation, Institute of Biology and Chemistry University of Hildesheim Hildesheim Germany., Rakotondravony R; Ecole Doctorale Ecosystèmes Naturels (EDEN) University of Mahajanga Mahajanga Madagascar.; Faculté des Sciences, de Technologies et de l'Environnement University of Mahajanga Mahajanga Madagascar., Rovanirina VST; Faculté des Sciences, de Technologies et de l'Environnement University of Mahajanga Mahajanga Madagascar., Veillet A; Department of Biological Sciences, Institute for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies University of Idaho Moscow Idaho USA., Hohenlohe PA; Department of Biological Sciences, Institute for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies University of Idaho Moscow Idaho USA., Ratsimbazafy JH; Groupe d'étude et de recherche sur les primates (GERP) Antananarivo Madagascar., Rasoloarison RM; Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology Unit German Primate Center Göttingen Germany., Rasoloharijaona S; Ecole Doctorale Ecosystèmes Naturels (EDEN) University of Mahajanga Mahajanga Madagascar.; Faculté des Sciences, de Technologies et de l'Environnement University of Mahajanga Mahajanga Madagascar., Randrianambinina B; Ecole Doctorale Ecosystèmes Naturels (EDEN) University of Mahajanga Mahajanga Madagascar.; Faculté des Sciences, de Technologies et de l'Environnement University of Mahajanga Mahajanga Madagascar., Ramilison ML; Faculté des Sciences, de Technologies et de l'Environnement University of Mahajanga Mahajanga Madagascar.; Department of Primate Behavior and Ecology Central Washington University Ellensburg Washington USA., Yoder AD; Department of Biology Duke University Durham North Carolina USA., Louis EE Jr; Grewcock Center for Conservation and Research Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium Omaha Nebraska USA., Radespiel U; Institute of Zoology University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation Hannover Germany.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Ecology and evolution [Ecol Evol] 2023 Jul 04; Vol. 13 (7), pp. e10254. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Jul 04 (Print Publication: 2023).
DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10254
Abstrakt: Madagascar exhibits exceptionally high levels of biodiversity and endemism. Models to explain the diversification and distribution of species in Madagascar stress the importance of historical variability in climate conditions which may have led to the formation of geographic barriers by changing water and habitat availability. The relative importance of these models for the diversification of the various forest-adapted taxa of Madagascar has yet to be understood. Here, we reconstructed the phylogeographic history of Gerp's mouse lemur ( Microcebus gerpi ) to identify relevant mechanisms and drivers of diversification in Madagascar's humid rainforests. We used restriction site associated DNA (RAD) markers and applied population genomic and coalescent-based techniques to estimate genetic diversity, population structure, gene flow and divergence times among M. gerpi populations and its two sister species M. jollyae and M. marohita . Genomic results were complemented with ecological niche models to better understand the relative barrier function of rivers and altitude. We show that M. gerpi diversified during the late Pleistocene. The inferred ecological niche, patterns of gene flow and genetic differentiation in M. gerpi suggest that the potential for rivers to act as biogeographic barriers depended on both size and elevation of headwaters. Populations on opposite sides of the largest river in the area with headwaters that extend far into the highlands show particularly high genetic differentiation, whereas rivers with lower elevation headwaters have weaker barrier functions, indicated by higher migration rates and admixture. We conclude that M. gerpi likely diversified through repeated cycles of dispersal punctuated by isolation to refugia as a result of paleoclimatic fluctuations during the Pleistocene. We argue that this diversification scenario serves as a model of diversification for other rainforest taxa that are similarly limited by geographic factors. In addition, we highlight conservation implications for this critically endangered species, which faces extreme habitat loss and fragmentation.
Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interests.
(© 2023 The Authors. Ecology and Evolution published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
Externí odkaz: