Integrated analysis of the ringneck snake Diadophis punctatus complex (Colubridae: Dipsadidae) in a biodiversity hotspot provides the foundation for conservation reassessment
| Autor: | Polly Strott, Emily Miles, Frank M. Fontanella |
|---|---|
| Rok vydání: | 2021 |
| Předmět: |
0106 biological sciences
0301 basic medicine biology Ecology Foundation (engineering) biology.organism_classification 010603 evolutionary biology 01 natural sciences Biodiversity hotspot Dipsadidae 03 medical and health sciences 030104 developmental biology Diadophis punctatus Colubridae Ecology Evolution Behavior and Systematics |
| Zdroj: | Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. 133:105-119 |
| ISSN: | 1095-8312 0024-4066 |
| DOI: | 10.1093/biolinnean/blab028 |
| Popis: | Species classification may not reflect the underlying/cryptic genetic diversity and focusing on groups that do not represent historically independent units can misdirect conservation efforts. The identification of evolutionarily significant units (ESUs) allows cryptic genetic diversity to be accounted for when designating conservation priorities. We used multi-locus coalescent-based species delimitation methods and multivariate analyses of morphological data to examine whether the subspecies merit conservation recognition and infer the ESUs in ringneck snakes (Diadophis punctatus) throughout the California Floristic Province. Species delimitation methods failed to recover groups consistent with designated subspecies and instead inferred three well supported, mostly geographically isolated lineages. Divergence time estimates suggest that the divergences were driven by historical isolation associated with Pleistocene climate shifts. We found a correlation between increased morphological differentiation and time since divergence, and greater niche similarity between the more recently diverged eastern California and western California groups. Based on these results, we propose that the morphological similarities are due to a combination of morphological conservatism and evolutionary stasis. Our study provides the foundation necessary to re-assess the biodiversity and conservation status of ringneck snakes and offers an important step in unveiling the diversity within the western portion of the genus’ range. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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