Evolution of Amazonian biodiversity: A review

Acta Amazonica, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 54(spe1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2024

ABSTRACT Amazonia (defined herein as the Amazon basin) is home to greatest concentration of biodiversity on Earth, providing unique genetic resources and ecological functions that contribute ecosystem services globally. The lengthy complex evolutionary history this region has produced heterogeneous landscapes riverscapes at multiple scales, altered geographic connections among populations, impacted rates adaptation, speciation, extinction. In turn, ecologically diverse Amazonian biotas promoted further diversification, species coexistence, coevolution, with accumulating over tens millions years. Important events in included: (i) late Cretaceous early Paleogene origin major rainforest plant animal groups; (ii) Eocene-Oligocene global cooling rainforests contracting tropical latitudes separating Atlantic coastal rainforests; (iii) Miocene uplift central northern Andes separated Pacific rainforests, spurred formation mega-wetlands western Amazon, contributed modern transcontinental River; (iv) Neogene Panamanian Isthmus facilitated Great American Biotic Interchange; (v) Pleistocene climate oscillations followed by Pleistocene-Holocene human colonization megafaunal extinctions; (vi) era widespread anthropogenic deforestation, defaunation, transformations regional climates. conservation requires decade-scale investments into documentation monitoring leverage existing scientific capacity, strategic habitat planning allow continuity processes now future.

Language: Английский

---

Riverine Barriers as Obstacles to Dispersal in Amazonian Birds

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 10

Published: July 4, 2022

Amazonian rivers represent known barriers for avian dispersal, reducing gene flow and enhancing differentiation. Despite the importance of in evolutionary process, we have made only minor advances understanding limitations imposed by on flying birds. To fill that gap, conducted dispersal-challenge experiments over water, assessing capabilities 84 tropical bird species 22 different families. We mist-netted released 484 birds from a stationary boat Rio Branco, northern Amazonia, at increasing distances shore, including 249 individuals 100; 219 200; 8 300; 5 400 m. A successful trial was represented reaching riverbank, whereas failure would refer to not shore landing when they were rescued our team. Our main goal understand if outcome could be predicted (i) phylogenetic constraints, (ii) morphology (body mass wing shape), (iii) flight speed, (iv) ecological preferences (stratum, habitat, river-island specialization), (v) psychological reluctance fly. Nearly two thirds (332) 152 failed. found significant differences among lineages. Whereas seven families succeeded all trials, (antbirds wrens) particularly bad dispersers (<40% success). The hand-wing index (HWI) single most powerful predictor success. Flying speed also Overall, attributes had low explanatory power. Only forest stratum preference significant, although weak, effect dispersal ability: canopy- ground-dwellers performed better than understory However, no habitat or specialization ability. estimates 64 are first produced tropics suggest slower speeds those reported temperate migratory Although showed behavioral presented with opportunity fly away boat, evidence their predict experiments. This represents experimental study evaluating riverine through ability birds, providing important insights provided barriers.

Language: Английский

---

Untangling biodiversity interactions: A meta network on pollination in Earth's most diverse tropical savanna

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(3)

Published: March 1, 2024

Abstract Pollination is vital for ecosystem functioning, especially in biodiversity‐rich regions like the Brazilian Cerrado. Our research establishes a comprehensive meta network of pollinator–plant interactions within this biome. We quantified importance different pollinator groups, identifying keystone species. examined potential biases sampling effort and spatial behavior heterogeneous Cerrado plant physiognomies. investigation uncovered 1499 among 293 species 386 visitor species, with legitimate pollination accounting 42.4% interactions. The exhibited modularity, driven by bees insects, vertebrates bridging diurnal nocturnal modules. While generalized pattern emerged, high specialization existed modules due to habitat diversity. Bees, particularly Apis mellifera (exotic) Trigona spinipes (native), played central roles as hubs. Hummingbirds bats, engaged specialized showing strong connectivity between Interestingly, invertebrate–vertebrate were more prevalent than expected network. However, bias was evident, primarily specific biogeographical districts fragmented landscapes intrusion from other biomes. Variations endemism rates influenced occurrence topology. study offers valuable insights into Cerrado, encompassing both invertebrates vertebrates. modeled represents significant step understanding structural complexity networks, integrating partial networks diverse systems habitats. Nevertheless, could limit functionality across

Language: Английский

---

Ongoing introgression of a secondary sexual plumage trait in a stable avian hybrid zoneIntrogresión continua de plumaje sexual secundario en una zona híbrida aviar estable

Evolution, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 78(9), P. 1539 - 1553

Published: May 16, 2024

Hybrid zones are dynamic systems where natural selection, sexual and other evolutionary forces can act on reshuffled combinations of distinct genomes. The movement hybrid zones, individual traits, or both particular interest for understanding the interplay between selective processes. In a zone involving two lek-breeding birds, secondary plumage traits Manacus vitellinus, including bright yellow collar olive belly color, have introgressed ~50 km asymmetrically across genomic center into populations more genetically similar to candei. Males with collars preferred by females aggressive than parental M. candei, suggesting that selection was responsible introgression male traits. We assessed spatial temporal dynamics this using historical (1989-1994) contemporary (2017-2020) transect samples survey morphological genetic variation. Genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism data several phenotypic show has remained spatially stable, whereas color vitellinus continued introgress over time period. Our suggest continue shape phenotypes dynamically, independent stable transition species.

Language: Английский

---

Global‐Scale Analysis Reveals Importance of Environment and Species Traits in Spatial Patterns of Riparian Plants' Genetic Diversity

Global Ecology and Biogeography, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 34(2)

Published: Feb. 1, 2025

ABSTRACT Aim In riparian zones along rivers, plant demography is shaped by hydrologic disturbances, the dendritic structure of river networks, and asymmetric gene flow due to prevalence unidirectional dispersal hydrochory. Downstream‐biased may lead accumulation genetic diversity in populations situated lower within catchment area—a phenomenon referred as ‘downstream increase intraspecific diversity’ (DIGD). Our study aimed test if presence this pattern plants depends on species traits, sampling design ecosystem integrity. Location Riparian rivers worldwide. Time Period 1978–2023. Major Taxa Studied Vascular plants. Methods We conducted meta‐analysis population studies identify factors linked occurrence DIGD pattern. modelled correlation between position using a dataset consisting variables extracted from studies, supplemented data trait databases. Results found no evidence for general trend but traits environmental partially explained patterns. A downstream was more likely be capable hydrochoric unmodified which maintain habitat continuity. Main Conclusions highlights that different patterns can or levels fragmentation. Population have frequently investigated remnant degraded habitats. Although such investigations are important, common well‐preserved needed, these help understanding mechanisms control natural dynamics species.

Language: Английский

---

Taxonomic revision of boreus species group of Dichotomius Hope, 1838 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae: Dichotomiini), with a description of two new species from western Amazon

Zoologischer Anzeiger, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Feb. 1, 2025

Language: Английский

---

Genetic Structure and Diversity of Rice Root Nematode (Hirschmanniella mucronata) in Thailand

Agronomy, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 15(4), P. 919 - 919

Published: April 9, 2025

Rice root nematodes (Hirschmanniella spp.) cause serious damage to rice in various rice-producing countries Asia. Nonetheless, there is limited information about the genetic diversity and structure of these nematodes, including Thailand, where current study explored Hirschmanniella spp. from 57 paddy fields major rice-growing areas across country. Using morphological characteristics internal transcribed spacer rDNA sequencing, we identified all samples as mucronata. The use Inter-Simple-Sequence-Repeats-based delta K statistical test principal coordinate analysis revealed two different groups three distinct geographical regions north northeast (Group 1) central 2) regions. While unbiased expected heterozygosity indicated low H. mucronata Thailand (0.149), Shannon index was higher Group 2 (0.259) than 1 (0.228). AMOVA confirmed high variation within such (76%), but between (24%). There no clear correlation geographic distance. Given presence almost countries, this first populations has provided fundamental knowledge that should help combat pest production system.

Language: Английский

---

Population structure in Neotropical plants: Integrating pollination biology, topography and climatic niches

Molecular Ecology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 31(8), P. 2264 - 2280

Published: Feb. 17, 2022

Animal pollinators mediate gene flow among plant populations, but in contrast to well-studied topographic and (Pleistocene) environmental isolating barriers, their impact on population genetic differentiation remains largely unexplored. Comparing how these multifarious factors drive microevolutionary histories is, however, crucial for better resolving macroevolutionary patterns of diversification. Here we combined genomic analyses with landscape genetics niche modelling across six related Neotropical species (424 individuals 33 localities) differing pollination strategy test the hypothesis that highly mobile (vertebrate) more effectively link isolated localities than less (bee) pollinators. We found consistently higher (F

Language: Английский

---

The challenges and potential of geogenomics for biogeography and conservation in Amazonia

Journal of Biogeography, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 49(10), P. 1839 - 1847

Published: July 4, 2022

Abstract Amazonia has a very high, although still incompletely known, species diversity distributed over mosaic of heterogeneous habitats that are also poorly characterized. As result this multi‐faceted complexity, poses great challenge to geogenomic approaches strive find causal links between Earth's geological history and biotic diversification, including the use genomic data solve geologic problems. This is even greater because need for interdisciplinary despite difficulties working across disciplines, where misinterpretations literature in disparate research fields can produce unrealistic scenarios biotic‐geologic linkages. The exchange information joint work geologists biologists essential building stronger more realistic hypotheses about how past climate may have affected distribution connectivity among populations, evolution drainage networks influenced ecological traits interactions currently define spatial organization biodiversity, thus changed change future. heterogeneity different effects historical processes its distinct regions ecosystems be completely recognized biogeography, conservation; policymaking. In perspective, we provide examples geological, climatological; relevant studies diversification Amazonia, recent advances (and their limitations) not apparent researchers other fields. three examples, which include limitations model outputs, complicated river drainages; complex link modulated by specialization, small subsample intended illustrate urgency integrated approaches.

Language: Английский

---

Late Pleistocene landscape changes and habitat specialization as promoters of population genomic divergence in Amazonian floodplain birds

Molecular Ecology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 32(1), P. 214 - 228

Published: Oct. 20, 2022

Although vicariant processes are expected to leave similar genomic signatures among codistributed taxa, ecological traits such as habitat and stratum can influence genetic divergence within species. Here, we combined landscape history specialization understand the historical factors responsible for current levels of in three species birds specialized seasonally flooded habitats muddy rivers which widespread Amazon basin but have isolated populations Rio Branco. Populations white-bellied spinetail (Mazaria propinqua), lesser wagtail-tyrant (Stigmatura napensis) bicolored conebill (Conirostrum bicolor) currently Branco by black-waters lower Negro, offering a unique opportunity test effect river colour barrier gene flow. We used ultraconserved elements (UCEs) alternative hypotheses population comparative phylogeographical approach modelling structure, demographic testing shared time taxa. Our analyses revealed that (i) all from floodplains genetically distinct other along River floodplains; (ii) these divergences result at least two events, consistent with specialization; (iii) most likely model evolution includes connectivity during Late Pleistocene transition (~250,000 years ago), flow being completely disrupted after Last Glacial Maximum (~21,000 ago). findings highlight how modulates specialist organisms different responses same environmental change, depending on their affinity.

Language: Английский

---