Marine introgressions and Andean uplift have driven diversification in neotropical Monkey tree frogs (Anura, Phyllomedusinae)
PeerJ,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
12, P. e17232 - e17232
Published: April 16, 2024
The
species
richness
in
the
Neotropics
has
been
linked
to
environmental
heterogeneity
and
a
complex
geological
history.
We
evaluated
which
biogeographic
processes
were
associated
with
diversification
of
Monkey
tree
frogs,
an
endemic
clade
from
Neotropics.
tested
two
competing
hypotheses:
Phyllomedusinae
occurred
either
"south-north"
or
"north-south"
direction
also
hypothesized
that
marine
introgressions
Andean
uplift
had
crucial
role
promoting
their
diversification.
used
13
molecular
markers
Bayesian
analysis
infer
phylogenetic
relationships
among
57
estimate
divergence
times.
estimated
ancestral
ranges
based
on
12
units
considering
landscape
modifications
Neotropical
region.
found
hypothetical
ancestor
range
was
probably
widespread
throughout
South
America,
Western
Amazon
Southern
Atlantic
Forest,
at
29.5
Mya.
Phyllomedusines'
must
have
initially
diverged
through
vicariance,
generally
followed
by
jump-dispersals
sympatric
speciation.
Dispersal
areas
mostly
Amazonia
towards
Northern
Andes
American
diagonal
dry
landscapes,
divergent
pattern
both
hypotheses.
Our
results
revealed
process
occurring
simultaneously
orogeny
last
30
million
years.
Language: Английский
Why Are Some Snakes More Terrifying and What Is Behind the Fear?
Animals,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
15(5), P. 731 - 731
Published: March 4, 2025
Snakes
are
stimuli
inducing
an
ancestral
fear
response
in
humans
and
other
primates.
Certain
snakes
evoke
more
subjective
than
others.
True
vipers
high-fear-eliciting
for
both
African
European
respondents.
This
can
be
explained
by
the
evolutionary
experience
of
human
ancestors
Africa.
The
question
arises
as
to
how
living
Americas
Australia,
with
which
have
no
experience,
will
evaluated.
While
these
belong
broader
taxonomic
groups
that
distant
relatives
Old
World,
they
evolved
independently
tens
millions
years.
We
prepared
a
set
32
pictures
depicting
eight
American
pit
vipers,
Australian
elapids,
constrictors,
colubrids
asked
respondents
rank
according
evoke.
Here,
we
show
high
cross-cultural
agreement
between
evaluations
characterized
robust
body
shape,
such
death
adders,
pythons,
boas,
were
most
fear-evoking.
width
was
strongest
predictor
evoked
fear.
contribution
coloration
pattern
stimulus
not
proved.
supports
view
patterns
dependent
on
direct
but
its
underlying
mechanisms
shared
cross-culturally.
Language: Английский
Amphibians and Reptiles Exhibit Different Ecological and Evolutionary Spatial Patterns in the Amazon Basin
Ecology and Evolution,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
15(3)
Published: March 1, 2025
Understanding
spatial
variability
in
ecological
and
evolutionary
patterns
is
key
to
Amazonian
biodiversity
conservation.
This
study
examined
taxonomic,
phylogenetic,
functional
diversity
across
amphibians
reptiles,
assessing
the
influence
of
elevation,
interrelationships
among
metrics,
distribution
five
Amazon
Basin
ecoregions,
exploring
"cradle"
(speciation)
"museum"
(lineage
preservation)
hypotheses.
We
analyzed
1011
amphibian
species
from
three
lineages
828
reptile
four
lineages.
Integrating
maps,
phylogenies,
trait
data,
we
calculated
phylogenetic
(PD),
(FD),
taxonomic
(TD)
diversity,
including
mean
(PDmntd)
(FDmntd)
distance
nearest
taxon.
regressions
between
metrics
assessed
correlations
compared
ecoregions
for
each
lineage.
Diversity
reveal
distinct
geographical
related
elevation.
Anurans
exhibit
higher
PD,
FD,
TD
western
Amazon,
while
squamates
show
hotspots
at
low
altitudes.
Testudines
are
linked
major
rivers,
crocodilians
display
high
PD
near
equator.
elevated
PDmntd
FDmntd
Andes,
whereas
testudines
found
cratonic
regions.
Significant
notable
differences
were
found,
especially
Andes
regions
Basin.
highlights
diverse
eco-evolutionary
Basin,
exhibiting
distributed
ecoregions.
The
findings
align
with
cradle-museum
hypothesis,
suggesting
that
some
serve
as
centers
ongoing
diversification,
others
preserve
ancient
lineages,
or
both.
hypothesis
should
be
carefully
analyzed,
taxon
presents
a
pattern.
research
underscores
necessity
targeted
conservation
strategies
tailored
dynamics
Language: Английский
Effect of Soil Properties on Species Richness of Fossorial Squamate Reptiles
Dunxue Chen,
No information about this author
Uri Roll,
No information about this author
Shai Meiri
No information about this author
et al.
Journal of Biogeography,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: March 26, 2025
ABSTRACT
Aim
Species
richness
varies
greatly
over
geographic
gradients.
Climate
and
other
above‐ground
attributes
are
the
most
common
variables
used
to
explain
animal
patterns.
However,
soil
properties
may
play
an
important
role
in
shaping
of
species
living
underground.
Studies
have
yet
comprehensively
analyse
fossorial
squamates'
patterns
how
influence
them.
We
investigated
different
predictors,
including
climate,
influenced
fully‐fossorial,
semi‐fossorial,
non‐fossorial
squamates.
Location
Global.
Taxon
Reptilia:
Squamata.
Methods
categorised
squamates
into
non‐fossorial,
assessed
for
each
category
independently.
selected
potential
climatic
factors
that
could
their
richness.
Then
we
ordinary
least
squares
regression
models
with
spatially
lagged
(OLSL)
geographically
weighted
(GWRL)
investigate
climate
on
group.
Results
Fully‐fossorial
squamate
peaks
Africa
South
America.
Semi‐fossorial
is
highest
America
Australia.
Non‐fossorial
exhibit
maximum
Southeast
Asia.
was
more
strongly
associated
than
all
groups.
Nevertheless,
as
levels
fossoriality
increase,
become
correlates
Main
Conclusions
This
study
highlights
importance
incorporating
alongside
biogeography.
Language: Английский
From Asia to the Americas: A New Cross‐Continental Perspective on Viper Biogeography and Habitat Dynamics
Journal of Biogeography,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: May 3, 2025
ABSTRACT
Aim
We
investigate
the
biogeographical
history
of
family
Viperidae,
focusing
on
how
habitat
use
influenced
geographical
range
evolution
group.
tested
key
hypotheses
origins
and
processes
major
clades
within
including
colonisation
New
World.
Location
Worldwide.
Taxon
Vipers
(Serpentes:
Viperidae).
Methods
used
four
recently
published
phylogenies
Viperidae
applied
maximum
likelihood
(ML)
models
with
trait‐specific
parameters
(habitats)
in
BioGeoBEARS
to
estimate
ancestral
ranges
use.
Results
Our
results
support
an
Asian
origin
for
family,
a
likely
trans‐Pacific
dispersal
Central
America
instead
Beringian
land
bridge
route.
The
subfamily
Viperinae
must
have
originated
Africa,
while
genus
Lachesis
emerged
South
+
America.
Habitat
reconstructions
showed
varied
impacts
forested
open
habitats
diversification
when
comparing
first
three
last
one.
Main
Conclusions
highlight
significant
role
viper
evolution.
Differently
from
what
was
previously
suggested,
our
findings
indicate
route
World
vipers.
Language: Английский
Once upon a time: exploring the biogeographic history of the largest endemic lizard family in the Neotropics (Squamata: Gymnophthalmidae)
Biological Journal of the Linnean Society,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
143(1)
Published: Sept. 1, 2024
Abstract
Gymnophthalmids
are
a
diverse
lineage
of
Neotropical
lizards
that
present
challenges
in
the
understanding
their
phylogenetic
relationships
and
biogeographic
history.
Using
densely
sampled
phylogeny
distribution
data,
we
investigated
biogeography
at
family
level.
Dividing
South
Central
America
into
12
regions,
tested
six
models
considering
dispersal-extinction,
vicariance,
founder
events.
Our
analysis
revealed
high
taxonomic
endemism
Andes,
Amazon,
Guiana
Shield.
The
best-fit
model
identified
Shield
as
likely
ancestral
area
family,
with
dispersal
events
dominating
over
vicariance.
Key
areas
for
species
interchange
were
Northern
core
regions
diversification
included
Shield,
elevated
richness
biotic
during
Eocene
Oligocene.
stood
out
stronghold
gymnophthalmid
diversity,
driven
by
rates
ancient
lineages.
findings
challenge
previous
hypotheses
about
these
lizards,
suggesting
colonization
pattern
from
lowlands
to
elevations
rather
than
South-to-North
Speciation
Hypothesis
Andean
Language: Английский