Journal article
Shifting ecosystem connectivity during the Pleistocene drove diversification and gene‐flow in a species complex of Neotropical birds (Tityridae: Pachyramphus)
Journal of biogeography, v 47(8), pp 1714-1726
Aug 2020
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Abstract
Aim
We aim to test the biogeographic drivers of diversification and gene‐flow at the Isthmus of Panama using a species complex of suboscine birds as a case study. We specifically evaluate whether diversification in these birds is better explained by continuous parapatry or a Refuge Model of periodic isolation and gene‐flow due glacial cycling.
Location
The Isthmus of Panama (Neotropics).
Taxon
Pachyramphus aglaiae and Pachyramphus homochrous (Aves: Tityridae).
Methods
We develop an approach to distinguish among the two biogeographic hypotheses—parapatric ecological speciation versus climatically mediated speciation—by making explicit predictions for demographic history, niche evolution and change in geographic connectivity over time. We sequenced genome‐wide markers (ultraconserved elements) to estimate the evolutionary and demographic history of this group. We applied both phylogenomic network analyses and demographic modelling using a supervised machine learning approach. These genetic analyses were combined with a novel distribution modelling method that estimates the probability of interspecies contact as a function of climatic conditions through time.
Results
We found that both spatial and genetic analyses revealed concordant results. All speciation events occurred during the Pleistocene and were characterized by non‐continuous gene‐flow, supporting a scenario of climate‐mediated diversification. Spatial connectivity was highest at present, consistent with our best demographic model of secondary contact.
Main conclusions
This study exemplifies a mechanism by which speciation, dispersal and introgression unfold in an important region for Neotropical diversification—the Isthmus of Panama—where periods of both isolation and introgression probably drive diversification. Overall, our results are consistent with the Refuge Model of biotic diversification, but suggest that introgression may be a crucial yet underappreciated component of this classic paradigm.
Metrics
Details
- Title
- Shifting ecosystem connectivity during the Pleistocene drove diversification and gene‐flow in a species complex of Neotropical birds (Tityridae: Pachyramphus)
- Creators
- Lukas J. Musher - American Museum of Natural HistoryPeter J. Galante - American Museum of Natural HistoryGregory Thom - American Museum of Natural HistoryJerry W. Huntley - American Museum of Natural HistoryMary E. Blair - American Museum of Natural History
- Publication Details
- Journal of biogeography, v 47(8), pp 1714-1726
- Number of pages
- 13
- Grant note
- National Science Foundation (1146248; 1241066) Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (2012/50260‐6; 2017/25720‐7; 2018/17869‐3) National Aeronautics and Space Administration (1241066) Richard Gilder Graduate School (Graduate Fellowship in Comparative Biology to LJM)
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Ornithology
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000528819900001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85084086881
- Other Identifier
- 991022048280504721
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InCites Highlights
Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:
- Web of Science research areas
- Ecology
- Geography, Physical