Open AccessBiogeographically dynamic genetic structure bridging two continents in the monotypic C entral A merican rodent O totylomys phyllotis
Author(s) -
GutiérrezGarcía Tania A.,
VázquezDomínguez Ella
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
biological journal of the linnean society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.906
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1095-8312
pISSN - 0024-4066
DOI - 10.1111/j.1095-8312.2012.01966.x
Subject(s) - biology , biological dispersal , ecology , population , phylogeography , biogeography , zoology , phylogenetic tree , demography , biochemistry , sociology , gene
C entral A merica is an ideal region in which to study patterns of historical divergence and population genetic differentiation, because of its extraordinarily dynamic biogeographical, tectonic, and climatic history. The rodent O totylomys phyllotis is the only extant species of the genus O totylomys and is distributed within this region from the I sthmus of T ehuantepec, M exico, to central C osta R ica, offering an excellent opportunity to study spatial and temporal patterns of population structure of the species and to explain the ecological and evolutionary processes responsible for those patterns. We estimated the genetic diversity and structure within and between populations of O . phyllotis , times of divergence, and migration patterns using mitochondrial DNA and a comprehensive combination of phylogenetic and phylogeographical computational analyses. Our results support monophyly of the genus O totylomys . We identified three major phylogeographical lineages within O . phyllotis that are linked to its diversification and coincide with the main geological features that shaped M iddle A merica. The origin of the genus was before 3.35 M ya, prior to the G reat A merican B iotic I nterchange ( GABI ), and its initial occurrence was near the centre of its current distribution ( H onduras/ E l S alvador), from which it later spread (3.20–2.84 M ya) following a series of GABI pulses. The species showed an initial northward dispersal to the C hiapas and G uatemala highlands (2.27 M ya) followed by diversification. A later dispersal (1.82 M ya) occurred toward both the south ( N icaragua, C osta R ica) and the north ( B elize). The Y ucatan peninsula was colonized (0.8 M ya) by individuals from B elize. Extremely high radiation and range expansion occurred throughout the entire range, the highest of which was in the Y ucatan peninsula (0.125 M ya). © 2012 The L innean S ociety of L ondon, B iological J ournal of the L innean S ociety , 2012, 107 , 593–610.