Hierarchies of evolutionary radiation in the worlds most species rich vertebrate group the Neotropical Pristimantis leaf litter frogs

Waddell, E. H., Crotti, M., Lougheed, S. C., Cannatella, D. C. and Elmer, K. R. (2018) Hierarchies of evolutionary radiation in the worlds most species rich vertebrate group the Neotropical Pristimantis leaf litter frogs. Systematics and Biodiversity, 16(8), pp. 807-819. (doi: 10.1080/14772000.2018.1503202)

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Abstract

The Neotropical leaf litter frog genus Pristimantis is very species-rich, with 526 species described to date, but the full extent of its diversity is much higher and remains unknown. This study explores the phylogenetic processes and resulting evolutionary patterns of diversification in Pristimantis. Given the well-recognised failure of morphology- and community-based species groups to describe diversity within the genus, we apply a new test for the presence and phylogenetic distribution of higher evolutionary units. We developed a phylogeny based on 260 individuals encompassing 149 Pristimantis presumed species, sampled at mitochondrial and nuclear genes (3718 base pair alignment), combining new and available sequence data. Our phylogeny broadly agrees with previous studies, both in topology and age estimates, with the origin of Pristimantis at 28.97 (95% HDP =21.59 – 37.33) million years ago (MYA). New taxa that we add to the genus, which had not previously been included in Pristimantis phylogenies, suggest considerable diversity remains to be described. We assessed patterns of lineage origin and recovered 14 most likely (95% CI: 13–19) phylogenetic clusters or higher evolutionary significant units (hESUs) within Pristimantis. Diversification rates decrease towards the present following a density-dependent pattern for Pristimantis overall and for most hESU clusters, reflecting historical evolutionary radiation. The timing of diversification suggests that geological events in the Miocene, such as Andes orogenesis and Pebas system formation and drainage, may have had a direct or indirect impact on the evolution of Pristimantis and thus contributed to the origins of evolutionary independent phylogenetic clusters.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Crotti, Marco and Waddell, Miss Emily and Elmer, Professor Kathryn
Authors: Waddell, E. H., Crotti, M., Lougheed, S. C., Cannatella, D. C., and Elmer, K. R.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
Journal Name:Systematics and Biodiversity
Publisher:Taylor and Francis
ISSN:1477-2000
ISSN (Online):1478-0933
Published Online:28 September 2018
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2018 The Trustees of the Natural History Museum, London
First Published:First published in Systematics and Biodiversity 16(8): 807-819
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

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Project CodeAward NoProject NamePrincipal InvestigatorFunder's NameFunder RefLead Dept
661581From egg-laying to live-bearing: Unravelling the genetics of a major evolutionary transitionKathryn ElmerNatural Environment Research Council (NERC)NE/N003942/1RI BIODIVERSITY ANIMAL HEALTH & COMPMED