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Cryptic vicariance in the historical assembly of a Baja California peninsular desert biota.

ABSTRACT: We use analyses of phylogeographic population structure across a suite of 12 mammalian, avian, amphibian, and reptilian species and species-groups to assess the role of Late Miocene to Pleistocene geological history in the evolution of a distinct Baja California Peninsular Desert biota. Comparative examination of phylogroup distributions provides support for previously hypothesized vicariant events produced by: a middle Pleistocene midpeninsular seaway, a late Pliocene northward transgression of the Sea of Cortéz, and a Pliocene seaway across the southern peninsular Isthmus of La Paz. Most of this phylogeographic architecture is cryptically embedded within widespread taxonomic species and species-groups, such that the unique evolutionary history of the Peninsular Desert has been obscured and ignored. The Peninsular Desert can no longer be considered a subset of the Sonoran Desert-it is a separate regional desert with its own unique evolutionary history, ecological arena, and conservation value.

SUBMITTER: Riddle BR

PROVIDER: S-EPMC18937 | biostudies-literature | 2000 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Cryptic vicariance in the historical assembly of a Baja California peninsular desert biota.

Riddle B R BR Hafner D J DJ Alexander L F LF Jaeger J R JR

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 20001201 26

We use analyses of phylogeographic population structure across a suite of 12 mammalian, avian, amphibian, and reptilian species and species-groups to assess the role of Late Miocene to Pleistocene geological history in the evolution of a distinct Baja California Peninsular Desert biota. Comparative examination of phylogroup distributions provides support for previously hypothesized vicariant events produced by: a middle Pleistocene midpeninsular seaway, a late Pliocene northward transgression of ...[more]

PMID: 11095731

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Dataset Information

Cryptic vicariance in the historical assembly of a Baja California peninsular desert biota.

Publications

Cryptic vicariance in the historical assembly of a Baja California peninsular desert biota.

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