Post‐Pleistocene differentiation in a Central Interior Highlands endemic salamander
Abstract Aim For many endemic species with limited dispersal capacities, the relationship between landscape changes and species distributions is still unclear. We characterized the population structure of the endemic ringed salamander (Ambystoma annulatum) across its distribution in the Central Inte...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2019-10-01
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| Series: | Ecology and Evolution |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.5619 |
| _version_ | 1818412856489541632 |
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| author | Jacob J. Burkhart Emily E. Puckett Chelsey J. Beringer Christine N. Sholy Raymond D. Semlitsch Lori S. Eggert |
| author_facet | Jacob J. Burkhart Emily E. Puckett Chelsey J. Beringer Christine N. Sholy Raymond D. Semlitsch Lori S. Eggert |
| author_sort | Jacob J. Burkhart |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Aim For many endemic species with limited dispersal capacities, the relationship between landscape changes and species distributions is still unclear. We characterized the population structure of the endemic ringed salamander (Ambystoma annulatum) across its distribution in the Central Interior Highlands (CIH) of North America, an area of high species endemism, to infer the ecological and evolutionary history of the species. Methods We sampled 498 individuals across the species distribution and characterized the population genetic structure using nuclear microsatellite and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) markers. Results Ambystoma annulatum exist in two strongly supported nuclear genetic clusters across the CIH that correspond to a northern cluster that includes the Missouri Ozark populations and a southern cluster that includes the Arkansas and Oklahoma Ozarks and the Ouachita Mountains. Our demographic models estimated that these populations diverged approximately 2,700 years ago. Pairwise estimates of genetic differentiation at microsatellite and mtDNA markers indicated limited contemporary gene flow and suggest that genetic differentiation was primarily influenced by changes in the post‐Pleistocene landscape of the CIH. Main Conclusions Both the geologic history and post‐European settlement history of the CIH have influenced the population genetic structure of A. annulatum. The low mtDNA diversity suggests a retraction into and expansion out of refugial areas in the south‐central Ozarks, during temperature fluctuations of the Pleistocene and Holocene epochs. Similarly, the estimated divergence time for the two nuclear clusters corresponds to changes in the post‐Pleistocene landscape. More recently, decreased A. annulatum gene flow may be a result of increased habitat fragmentation and alteration post‐European settlement. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T10:53:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-71f70c9110794a65aa29d209fc9c56f0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-7758 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T10:53:57Z |
| publishDate | 2019-10-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj.art-71f70c9110794a65aa29d209fc9c56f02022-12-21T23:05:02ZengWileyEcology and Evolution2045-77582019-10-01919111711118410.1002/ece3.5619Post‐Pleistocene differentiation in a Central Interior Highlands endemic salamanderJacob J. Burkhart0Emily E. Puckett1Chelsey J. Beringer2Christine N. Sholy3Raymond D. Semlitsch4Lori S. Eggert5Division of Biological Sciences University of Missouri Columbia MO USADepartment of Biological Sciences University of Memphis Memphis TN USADivision of Biological Sciences University of Missouri Columbia MO USADivision of Biological Sciences University of Missouri Columbia MO USADivision of Biological Sciences University of Missouri Columbia MO USADivision of Biological Sciences University of Missouri Columbia MO USAAbstract Aim For many endemic species with limited dispersal capacities, the relationship between landscape changes and species distributions is still unclear. We characterized the population structure of the endemic ringed salamander (Ambystoma annulatum) across its distribution in the Central Interior Highlands (CIH) of North America, an area of high species endemism, to infer the ecological and evolutionary history of the species. Methods We sampled 498 individuals across the species distribution and characterized the population genetic structure using nuclear microsatellite and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) markers. Results Ambystoma annulatum exist in two strongly supported nuclear genetic clusters across the CIH that correspond to a northern cluster that includes the Missouri Ozark populations and a southern cluster that includes the Arkansas and Oklahoma Ozarks and the Ouachita Mountains. Our demographic models estimated that these populations diverged approximately 2,700 years ago. Pairwise estimates of genetic differentiation at microsatellite and mtDNA markers indicated limited contemporary gene flow and suggest that genetic differentiation was primarily influenced by changes in the post‐Pleistocene landscape of the CIH. Main Conclusions Both the geologic history and post‐European settlement history of the CIH have influenced the population genetic structure of A. annulatum. The low mtDNA diversity suggests a retraction into and expansion out of refugial areas in the south‐central Ozarks, during temperature fluctuations of the Pleistocene and Holocene epochs. Similarly, the estimated divergence time for the two nuclear clusters corresponds to changes in the post‐Pleistocene landscape. More recently, decreased A. annulatum gene flow may be a result of increased habitat fragmentation and alteration post‐European settlement.https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.5619Ambystoma annulatumAmbystomatidaeamphibiansbiogeographyCaudataOuachita Mountains |
| spellingShingle | Jacob J. Burkhart Emily E. Puckett Chelsey J. Beringer Christine N. Sholy Raymond D. Semlitsch Lori S. Eggert Post‐Pleistocene differentiation in a Central Interior Highlands endemic salamander Ecology and Evolution Ambystoma annulatum Ambystomatidae amphibians biogeography Caudata Ouachita Mountains |
| title | Post‐Pleistocene differentiation in a Central Interior Highlands endemic salamander |
| title_full | Post‐Pleistocene differentiation in a Central Interior Highlands endemic salamander |
| title_fullStr | Post‐Pleistocene differentiation in a Central Interior Highlands endemic salamander |
| title_full_unstemmed | Post‐Pleistocene differentiation in a Central Interior Highlands endemic salamander |
| title_short | Post‐Pleistocene differentiation in a Central Interior Highlands endemic salamander |
| title_sort | post pleistocene differentiation in a central interior highlands endemic salamander |
| topic | Ambystoma annulatum Ambystomatidae amphibians biogeography Caudata Ouachita Mountains |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.5619 |
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