Chasing the Rainbow: Decoupled phenotypic and genotypic evolution in New Guinea’s rainbow skinks (Squamata: Scincidae)

Zootaxa, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 5583(2), P. 309 - 327

Published: Feb. 3, 2025

With the advent of molecular data, discovery cryptic species has become commonplace. New Guinea, a region high vertebrate biodiversity and complex geological history, been found to contain immense numbers skink species. We present first phylogenetic analysis Carlia Gray, 1845, its sister genus Lygisaurus de Vis, 1884, across mainland Guinea Solomon Islands. find rainbow skinks exhibit significant genetic divergence with minimal morphological variation our data suggest existence many undescribed Due morphologically nature skinks, we demonstrate efficacy COI gene as “barcode” for difficult determinations. Divergence time biogeographic analyses support four separate dispersal events from Australia ~10–5 mya, most groups arriving in East Papua Composite Terrane (EPCT) dispersing there other terranes islands. Exceptions this pattern were observed Lygisaurus, which dispersed West Papuan portion Craton ~8.4mya, island clade fusca group, Vogelkop peninsula ~4.7mya

Language: Английский

Repeated Mitochondrial Capture With Limited Genomic Introgression in a Lizard Group

Molecular Ecology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: April 16, 2025

ABSTRACT Mitochondrial introgression is common among animals and often first identified through mitonuclear discordance—discrepancies between evolutionary relationships inferred from mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) nuclear (nuDNA). Over recent decades, genomic data have also revealed extensive in many animal groups, with implications for genetic phenotypic diversity. However, the extent to which mtDNA corresponds nuDNA varies. Here, we investigated historical Gehyra nana ‐occidentalis clade, a complex group of Australian geckos documented cases discordance suggestive repeated introgression. We hypothesised that this clade reflects substantial Despite evidence introgression, however, found little no using exon capture genome‐wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data. gene flow at modern contact zones detected only early generation hybrid. Unsurprisingly, given these results, transgressive, intermediate, or more variable morphological phenotypes taxa introgressed mtDNA. These findings suggest hybridisation system has, least some cases, resulted This pattern aligns other studies showing limited discordance, highlighting potentially broader trend radiations.

Language: Английский

Discerning structure versus speciation in phylogeographic analysis of Seepage Salamanders (Desmognathus aeneus) using demography, environment, geography, and phenotype

Molecular Ecology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 33(2)

Published: Nov. 28, 2023

Abstract Numerous mechanisms can drive speciation, including isolation by adaptation, distance, and environment. These forces promote genetic phenotypic differentiation of local populations, the formation phylogeographic lineages, ultimately, completed speciation. However, conceptually similar may also result in stabilizing rather than diversifying selection, leading to lineage integration long‐term persistence population structure within genetically cohesive species. Processes that maintenance geographic diversity while facilitating high rates migration limiting thereby is not accompanied reproductive isolation. We suggest this framework be applied more broadly address classic dilemma “structure” versus “species” when evaluating diversity, unifying genetics, species delimitation, underlying study demonstrate one such instance Seepage Salamander ( Desmognathus aeneus ) from southeastern United States. Recent studies estimated up 6.3% mitochondrial divergence four phylogenomic lineages with broad admixture across hybrid zones, which could potentially represent distinct supported our species‐delimitation analyses. limited dispersal promotes substantial microhabitat specificity appears yield selection on a single, uniform, ecologically mediated phenotype. As result, climatic cycles recurrent contact between repeated instances through time. Subsequent hybridization apparently counteracted adaptive introgression, leaving single unified deeply divergent nonetheless do appear incipient

Language: Английский