Dataset Information

Phylogeography of the Alcippe morrisonia (Aves: Timaliidae): long population history beyond late Pleistocene glaciations.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:The role of Pleistocene glacial oscillations in current biodiversity and distribution patterns varies with latitude, physical topology and population life history and has long been a topic of discussion. However, there had been little phylogeographical research in south China, where the geophysical complexity is associated with great biodiversity. A bird endemic in Southeast Asia, the Grey-cheeked Fulvetta, Alcippe morrisonia, has been reported to show deep genetic divergences among its seven subspecies. In the present study, we investigated the phylogeography of A. morrisonia to explore its population structure and evolutionary history, in order to gain insight into the effect of geological events on the speciation and diversity of birds endemic in south China. RESULTS:Mitochondrial genes cytochrome b (Cytb) and cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) were represented by 1236 nucleotide sites from 151 individuals from 29 localities. Phylogenetic analysis showed seven monophyletic clades congruent with the geographically separated groups, which were identified as major sources of molecular variance (90.92%) by AMOVA. TCS analysis revealed four disconnected networks, and that no haplotype was shared among the geographical groups. The common ancestor of these populations was dated to 11.6 Mya and several divergence events were estimated along the population evolutionary history. Isolation by distance was inferred by NCPA to be responsible for the current intra-population genetic pattern and gene flow among geographical groups was interrupted. A late Pleistocene demographic expansion was detected in the eastern geographical groups, while the expansion time (0.2-0.4 Mya) was earlier than the Last Glacial Maximum. CONCLUSION:It is proposed that the complicated topology preserves high genetic diversity and ancient lineages for geographical groups of A. morrisonia in China mainland and its two major islands, and restricts gene exchange during climate oscillations. Isolation by distance seems to be an important factor of genetic structure formation within geographical populations. Although glacial influence to population fluctuation was observed in late Pleistocene, it seems that populations in eastern China were more susceptible to climate change, and all geographical groups were growing stably through the Last Glacial Maximum. Coalescence analysis suggested that the ancestor of A. morrisonia might be traced back to the late Miocene, and the current phylogeographical structure of A. morrisonia is more likely to be attributable to a series geological events than to Pleistocene glacial cycles.

SUBMITTER: Song G

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2714695 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Phylogeography of the Alcippe morrisonia (Aves: Timaliidae): long population history beyond late Pleistocene glaciations.

Song Gang G Qu Yanhua Y Yin Zuohua Z Li Shouhsien S Liu Naifa N Lei Fumin F

BMC evolutionary biology 20090627

<h4>Background</h4>The role of Pleistocene glacial oscillations in current biodiversity and distribution patterns varies with latitude, physical topology and population life history and has long been a topic of discussion. However, there had been little phylogeographical research in south China, where the geophysical complexity is associated with great biodiversity. A bird endemic in Southeast Asia, the Grey-cheeked Fulvetta, Alcippe morrisonia, has been reported to show deep genetic divergences ...[more]

PMID: 19558699

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Project description:BackgroundOn the basis of molecular dating, Pleistocene glaciations have been proposed as the major driving force of biota speciation in the Palearctic and the pre-Quaternary origin of Amazonian taxa. However, the major driving factors in East Asia remain unclear. All 16 saturniine species inhabiting Taiwan with congeners of populations, subspecies, or species in East Asia constitute research objects for addressing the mode of speciation because of the repeated formation and disappearance of a landbridge from the Asian mainland to Taiwan during glacial cycles.MethodsThe genetic divergences of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and 16S rDNA and the nuclear 28S rDNA of the saturniine species from Taiwan and the Asian mainland were assessed to determine the monophyly of each genus and species of Saturniinae. Moreover, 519 saturniine COI sequences of 114 taxa from adjacent East and Southeast Asian populations and closely related species were retrieved from GenBank and analyzed. The differentiation timing and possible origination of the insular saturniines were elucidated based on phylogenetic relationships, haplotype networks, and lineage calibrations.ResultsApproximately 90% of intraspecific COI divergence was <2%; all divergences exceeding 2% originated from comparisons between allopatric populations or subspecies. Relationship analyses revealed that multiple introductions likely occurred in insular saturniines and that some East Asian saturniines were paraphyletic as deduced by analyzing endemic insular species. Calibration dating revealed that Taiwanese endemic saturniines split from sibling Asian species 0.2-2.7 million years ago (Mya), whereas subspecific-level and population-level splitting events occurred 0.1-1.7 Mya and 0.2-1.2 Mya, respectively. Moreover, phylogenetic patterns combined with geographical distributions revealed that hill-distributed Taiwanese saturniines are closely related to those from southern China and Southeast Asia, whereas saturniines inhabiting altitudes higher than 1,500 m in Taiwan have siblings distributed in temperate Northeast Asia.DiscussionThe Global DNA Barcoding Initiative was successfully applied to study the population genetic structure in species. Most Formosan saturniines are distinct and monophyletic, reflecting the vicariant barrier of the Taiwan Strait; Pleistocene glacial cycles provided opportunities for insular saturniines to experience repeated isolation from and secondary contact with the continental mainland. Each insular saturniine may have evolved with a unique differentiation timing pattern that possibly emerged in the Early, Middle, or Late Pleistocene with these patterns differing from the consistent pattern that occurred in the temperate Palearctic and tropical Amazonian regions. Moreover, multiple migrations or artificial genetic admixtures may have also occurred, as suggested by the coexistence of two divergent lineages in a few Taiwanese saturniines.

Dataset Information

Phylogeography of the Alcippe morrisonia (Aves: Timaliidae): long population history beyond late Pleistocene glaciations.

Publications

Phylogeography of the Alcippe morrisonia (Aves: Timaliidae): long population history beyond late Pleistocene glaciations.

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