scholarly journals Climatic niche evolution in the viviparousSceloporus torquatusgroup (Squamata: Phrynosomatidae)

PeerJ ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. e6192 ◽  
Author(s):  
Norberto Martínez-Méndez ◽  
Omar Mejía ◽  
Jorge Ortega ◽  
Fausto Méndez-de la Cruz
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Signal ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Niche Differentiation ◽  
Cold Climate ◽  
Niche Conservatism ◽  
Niche Evolution ◽  
Climatic Niche ◽  
Precipitation Seasonality ◽  
Bioclimatic Variables ◽  
Dry Conditions

The cold-climate hypothesis maintains that viviparity arose as a means to prevent increased egg mortality in nests owing to low temperatures, and this hypothesis represents the primary and most strongly supported explanation for the evolution of viviparity in reptiles. In this regard, certain authors have stated that viviparous species will exhibit speciation via climatic niche conservatism, with similar climatic niches being observed in allopatric sister species. However, this prediction remains to be tested with bioclimatic variables relevant to each viviparous group. In the present study, we examined climatic niche evolution in a group of North American viviparous lizards to determine whether their diversification is linked to phylogenetic niche conservatism (PNC). We evaluated the phylogenetic signal and trait evolution of individual bioclimatic variables and principal component (PC) scores of a PC analysis, along with reconstructions of ancestral climate tolerances. The results suggest that diversification of theSceloporus torquatusgroup species is associated with both niche differentiation and PNC. Furthermore, we did not observe PNC across nearly all bioclimatic variables and in PC2 and PC3. However, in Precipitation Seasonality (Bio15), in Precipitation of Coldest Quarter (Bio19) and in PC1 (weakly associated with variability of temperature), we did observe PNC. Additionally, variation of the scores along the phylogeny and Pagel’s delta (δ) >1 of PC3 suggests a fast, recent evolution to dry conditions in the clade that sustainsS. serrifer.

scholarly journals Climatic niche evolution in the viviparous Sceloporus torquatus group (Squamata: Phrynosomatidae).

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Norberto Martínez-Méndez ◽  
Omar Mejía ◽  
Jorge Ortega ◽  
Fausto R. Méndez-de la Cruz
Keyword(s):  
Niche Differentiation ◽  
Cold Climate ◽  
Ecological Niches ◽  
Evolutionary Constraint ◽  
Niche Evolution ◽  
Climatic Niche ◽  
Precipitation Seasonality ◽  
Bioclimatic Variables ◽  
Glacial Periods ◽  
Main Factor

The cold-climate hypothesis is the main and most supported explanation of the evolution of viviparity among reptiles. This hypothesis sustains that viviparity arose as a means to save eggs from an increased mortality in nests linked with low temperatures. In this sense, some authors have stated that viviparity could constitute an evolutionary constraint. However, the link between evolutionary constraints and the evolution of ecological niches has not been well studied. Here, we study the climatic niche evolution of a group of viviparous lizards from North America to test whether the diversification of the group is linked with Phylogenetic Niche Conservatism (PNC). We evaluated phylogenetic signals and trait evolution, besides a reconstruction of ancestral climate tolerances, and did not find PNC in the ecological niche of the species in the group. Surprisingly, we did not find conservatism in any bioclimatic variables associated with temperature; we only had evidence of conservatism in Precipitation Seasonality (Bio15) and Precipitation of Coldest Quarter (Bio19). Analysis of relative disparity through time (DTT) indicates high divergence around 4.0 MYA and 0.65 MYA that coincides with orogenic and glacial periods. There is no evidence that climatic niche differentiation was the main factor in the diversification of the studied group. Orogenic and glacial periods probably promote cycles of the availability of new territories and isolation, which could promote the rapid accumulation of ecological differences between the species of the group.

scholarly journals Climatic niche evolution in the viviparous Sceloporus torquatus group (Squamata: Phrynosomatidae).

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Norberto Martínez-Méndez ◽  
Omar Mejía ◽  
Jorge Ortega ◽  
Fausto R. Méndez-de la Cruz
Keyword(s):  
Niche Differentiation ◽  
Cold Climate ◽  
Ecological Niches ◽  
Evolutionary Constraint ◽  
Niche Evolution ◽  
Climatic Niche ◽  
Precipitation Seasonality ◽  
Bioclimatic Variables ◽  
Glacial Periods ◽  
Main Factor

The cold-climate hypothesis is the main and most supported explanation of the evolution of viviparity among reptiles. This hypothesis sustains that viviparity arose as a means to save eggs from an increased mortality in nests linked with low temperatures. In this sense, some authors have stated that viviparity could constitute an evolutionary constraint. However, the link between evolutionary constraints and the evolution of ecological niches has not been well studied. Here, we study the climatic niche evolution of a group of viviparous lizards from North America to test whether the diversification of the group is linked with Phylogenetic Niche Conservatism (PNC). We evaluated phylogenetic signals and trait evolution, besides a reconstruction of ancestral climate tolerances, and did not find PNC in the ecological niche of the species in the group. Surprisingly, we did not find conservatism in any bioclimatic variables associated with temperature; we only had evidence of conservatism in Precipitation Seasonality (Bio15) and Precipitation of Coldest Quarter (Bio19). Analysis of relative disparity through time (DTT) indicates high divergence around 4.0 MYA and 0.65 MYA that coincides with orogenic and glacial periods. There is no evidence that climatic niche differentiation was the main factor in the diversification of the studied group. Orogenic and glacial periods probably promote cycles of the availability of new territories and isolation, which could promote the rapid accumulation of ecological differences between the species of the group.

scholarly journals Niche conservatism and invasion potential of Pomacea canaliculata and Pomacea maculata in two invaded regions

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhong Qin ◽  
Jia-En Zhang ◽  
Benliang Zhao ◽  
Zhaoji Shi ◽  
Zeheng Xiao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Ecological Niche ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
The United States ◽  
Influential Factor ◽  
Pomacea Canaliculata ◽  
Niche Conservatism ◽  
Ecological Niche Models ◽  
Invasion Potential ◽  
Bioclimatic Variables

Abstract The most noxious apple snails (Pomacea canaliculata and P. maculata) native to South America, currently has two distinct invaded ranges in China and the United States. Whether the environmental niches of the two closely related species have changed or remained stable (niche conservatism hypothesis) during the invasion process has become an important issue in forecasting their potential geographic distributions. For each Pomacea snail, two ecological niche models (ENMs, employing BIOMOD2) were generated based on bioclimatic variables and occurrence records in: (1) the native range; (2) the different invasive range. Conservation of ecological niche between the native and invasive snail populations were then tested by principal component and niche dynamics analysis. According to all models, precipitation contributed most to distribution of P. maculata, whereas low temperature was another most influential factor for spread of P. canaliculata. Niche conservatism were indicated by niche similarity tests and high niche stability for both Pomacea snails during their invasions in two regions. Niche expansions of P. canaliculata were relatively larger than unfilling values, whereas niche expansions of P. maculata were lower than unfillings. High niche unfilling for P. maculata in the United States revealed a great potential for further expansion in this region. We discuss the possible roles of physiological tolerances, genetic variation, residence time and hybridization in shaping niche changes for Pomacea snails during their invasion processes. Findings of this work can improve the understanding of potential mechanisms for niche differentiation and provide a theoretical basis for forecasting the invasion potential of Pomacea snails.

scholarly journals Climatic niche evolution is faster in sympatric than allopatric lineages of the butterfly genus Pyrgus

2017 ◽  
Vol 284 (1852) ◽  
pp. 20170208 ◽  
Author(s):  
Camille Pitteloud ◽  
Nils Arrigo ◽  
Tomasz Suchan ◽  
Alicia Mastretta-Yanes ◽  
Roger Vila ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Scale ◽  
Ecological Niche ◽  
Niche Differentiation ◽  
Evolutionary Rates ◽  
Evolutionary Significance ◽  
Niche Evolution ◽  
Ecological Divergence ◽  
Climatic Niche ◽  
Biogeographic Regions ◽  
The Impact

Understanding how speciation relates to ecological divergence has long fascinated biologists. It is assumed that ecological divergence is essential to sympatric speciation, as a mechanism to avoid competition and eventually lead to reproductive isolation, while divergence in allopatry is not necessarily associated with niche differentiation. The impact of the spatial context of divergence on the evolutionary rates of abiotic dimensions of the ecological niche has rarely been explored for an entire clade. Here, we compare the magnitude of climatic niche shifts between sympatric versus allopatric divergence of lineages in butterflies. By combining next-generation sequencing, parametric biogeography and ecological niche analyses applied to a genus-wide phylogeny of Palaearctic Pyrgus butterflies, we compare evolutionary rates along eight climatic dimensions across sister lineages that diverged in large-scale sympatry versus allopatry. In order to examine the possible effects of the spatial scale at which sympatry is defined, we considered three sets of biogeographic assignments, ranging from narrow to broad definition. Our findings suggest higher rates of niche evolution along all climatic dimensions for sister lineages that diverge in sympatry, when using a narrow delineation of biogeographic areas. This result contrasts with significantly lower rates of climatic niche evolution found in cases of allopatric speciation, despite the biogeographic regions defined here being characterized by significantly different climates. Higher rates in allopatry are retrieved when biogeographic areas are too widely defined—in such a case allopatric events may be recorded as sympatric. Our results reveal the macro-evolutionary significance of abiotic niche differentiation involved in speciation processes within biogeographic regions, and illustrate the importance of the spatial scale chosen to define areas when applying parametric biogeographic analyses.

scholarly journals Climatic niche breadths of the Atlantic Forest snakes do not increase with increasing latitude

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Thales da Motta Portillo ◽  
Fausto Erritto Barbo ◽  
Ricardo J Sawaya
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Phylogenetic Signal ◽  
Generalized Least Squares ◽  
Niche Conservatism ◽  
General View ◽  
South American ◽  
Climatic Niche ◽  
Trade Off ◽  
Phylogenetic Niche Conservatism ◽  
Temperature And Precipitation

Abstract The climatic niche is a central concept for understanding species distribution, with current and past climate interpreted as strong drivers of present and historical geographical ranges. Our aim is to understand whether Atlantic Forest snakes follow the general geographical pattern of increasing species climatic niche breadths with increasing latitude. We also tested if there is a trade-off between temperature and precipitation niche breadths of species in order to understand if species with larger breadths of one niche dimension have stronger dispersal constraints by the other due to narrower niche breadths. Niche breadths were calculated by the subtraction of maximal and minimal values of temperature and precipitation across species ranges. We implemented Phylogenetic Generalized Least Squares (PGLS) to measure the relationship between temperature and precipitation niche breadths and latitude. We also tested phylogenetic signals by Lambda statistics to analyze the degree of phylogenetic niche conservatism to both niche dimensions. Temperature niche breadths were not related to latitude. Precipitation niche breadths decreased with increasing latitude and presented a high phylogenetic signal, i.e. significant phylogenetic niche conservatism. We rejected the trade-off hypotheses of temperature and precipitation niche breadths. Our results also indicate that precipitation should be an important ecological constraint affecting the geographical distribution of snake lineages across the South American Atlantic Forest. We then provide a general view of how phylogenetic niche conservatism could impact the patterns of latitudinal variation of climatic niches across this biodiversity hotspot.

scholarly journals Climatic niche conservatism in a clade of disease vectors (Diptera: Phlebotominae)

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emmanuel R. R. D'Agostino ◽  
Rafael Vivero ◽  
Luis Romero ◽  
Eduar Bejarano ◽  
Allen H Hurlbert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Niche Differentiation ◽  
Niche Conservatism ◽  
Climate Data ◽  
Climatic Niche ◽  
Climate Conditions ◽  
Disease Vector ◽  
Climate Niche ◽  
The Tropics ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Latitudinal Range

Sandflies of the family Psychodidae show notable diversity in both disease vector status and climatic niche. Some species (in the subfamily Phlebotominae) transmit Leishmania parasites, responsible for the disease leishmaniasis. Other Psychodidae species do not. Psychodid species ranges can be solely tropical, confined to the temperate zones, or span both. Studying the relationship between the evolution of disease vector status and that of climatic niche affords an understanding not only of the climate conditions associated with the presence and species richness of Leishmania vectors, but also allows the study of the extent to which the climatic niches of psychodid flies are conserved, in a context with implications for global human health. We obtained observation site data, and associated climate data, for 223 psychodid species to understand which aspects of climate most closely predict distribution. Temperature and seasonality are strong determinants of species occurrence within the clade. We built a mitochondrial DNA phylogeny of Psychodidae, and found a positive relationship between pairwise genetic distance and climate niche differentiation, which indicates strong niche conservatism. This result is also supported by strong phylogenetic signals of metrics of climate differentiation. Finally, we used ancestral trait reconstruction to infer the tropicality (i.e., proportion of latitudinal range in the tropics minus the proportion of the latitudinal range in temperate areas) of ancestral species, and counted transitions to and from tropicality states, finding that tropical and temperate species respectively produced almost entirely tropical and temperate descendant species, a result consistent for vector and non-vector species. Taken together, these results imply that while vectors of Leishmania can survive in a variety of climates, their climate niches are strongly predicted by phylogeny.

scholarly journals The legacy of Eastern Mediterranean mountain uplifts: rapid disparity of phylogenetic niche conservatism and divergence in mountain vipers

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohsen Ahmadi ◽  
Mahmoud-Reza Hemami ◽  
Mohammad Kaboli ◽  
Masoud Nazarizadeh ◽  
Mansoureh Malekian ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Region ◽  
Ecological Niche ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Phylogenetic Signal ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean Region ◽  
Ecological Niches ◽  
Niche Conservatism ◽  
Niche Evolution ◽  
Biogeographic History ◽  
Temperature Seasonality

Abstract Background The orogeny of the eastern Mediterranean region has substantially affected ecological speciation patterns, particularly of mountain-dwelling species. Mountain vipers of the genus Montivipera are among the paramount examples of Mediterranean neo-endemism, with restricted ranges in the mountains of Anatolia, the Levant, Caucasus, Alborz, and Zagros. Here we explore the phylogenetic and ecological diversification of Montivipera to reconstruct its ecological niche evolution and biogeographic history. Using 177 sequences of three mitochondrial genes, a dated molecular phylogeny of mountain vipers was reconstructed. Based on 320 occurrence points within the entire range of the genus and six climatic variables, ecological niches were modelled and used to infer ancestral niche occupancy. In addition, the biogeographic history and ancestral states of the species were reconstructed across climate gradients. Results Dated phylogenetic reconstruction revealed that the ancestor of mountain vipers split into two major clades at around 12.18 Mya followed by multiple vicariance events due to rapid orogeny. Montivipera colonised coastal regions from a mountain-dwelling ancestor. We detected a highly complex ecological niche evolution of mountain vipers to temperature seasonality, a variable that also showed a strong phylogenetic signal and high contribution in niche occupation. Conclusion Raising mountain belts in the Eastern Mediterranean region and subsequent remarkable changes in temperature seasonality have led to the formation of important centres of diversification and endemism in this biodiversity hotspot. High rates of niche conservatism, low genetic diversity, and segregation of ranges into the endemic distribution negatively influenced the adaptive capacity of mountain vipers. We suggest that these species should be considered as evolutionary significant units and priority species for conservation in Mediterranean mountain ecosystems.

scholarly journals A Bioclimate-Based Maximum Entropy Model for Comperiella calauanica Barrion, Almarinez and Amalin (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) in the Philippines

Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 26
Author(s):  
Billy Joel M. Almarinez ◽  
Mary Jane A. Fadri ◽  
Richard Lasina ◽  
Mary Angelique A. Tavera ◽  
Thaddeus M. Carvajal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Maximum Entropy ◽  
Habitat Suitability ◽  
Species Distribution Model ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Distribution Model ◽  
Field Surveys ◽  
Probability Of Occurrence ◽  
Precipitation Seasonality ◽  
Bioclimatic Variables

Comperiella calauanica is a host-specific endoparasitoid and effective biological control agent of the diaspidid Aspidiotus rigidus, whose outbreak from 2010 to 2015 severely threatened the coconut industry in the Philippines. Using the maximum entropy (Maxent) algorithm, we developed a species distribution model (SDM) for C. calauanica based on 19 bioclimatic variables, using occurrence data obtained mostly from field surveys conducted in A. rigidus-infested areas in Luzon Island from 2014 to 2016. The calculated the area under the ROC curve (AUC) values for the model were very high (0.966, standard deviation = 0.005), indicating the model’s high predictive power. Precipitation seasonality was found to have the highest relative contribution to model development. Response curves produced by Maxent suggested the positive influence of mean temperature of the driest quarter, and negative influence of precipitation of the driest and coldest quarters on habitat suitability. Given that C. calauanica has been found to always occur with A. rigidus in Luzon Island due to high host-specificity, the SDM for the parasitoid may also be considered and used as a predictive model for its host. This was confirmed through field surveys conducted between late 2016 and early 2018, which found and confirmed the occurrence of A. rigidus in three areas predicted by the SDM to have moderate to high habitat suitability or probability of occurrence of C. calauanica: Zamboanga City in Mindanao; Isabela City in Basilan Island; and Tablas Island in Romblon. This validation in the field demonstrated the utility of the bioclimate-based SDM for C. calauanica in predicting habitat suitability or probability of occurrence of A. rigidus in the Philippines.

scholarly journals Links between plant species’ spatial and temporal responses to a warming climate

2014 ◽  
Vol 281 (1779) ◽  
pp. 20133017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tatsuya Amano ◽  
Robert P. Freckleton ◽  
Simon A. Queenborough ◽  
Simon W. Doxford ◽  
Richard J. Smithers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Distribution Models ◽  
Range Shifts ◽  
Niche Conservatism ◽  
Historical Records ◽  
Perennial Species ◽  
Distribution Models ◽  
Climatic Niche ◽  
Warming Climate ◽  
Phenological Changes

To generate realistic projections of species’ responses to climate change, we need to understand the factors that limit their ability to respond. Although climatic niche conservatism, the maintenance of a species’s climatic niche over time, is a critical assumption in niche-based species distribution models, little is known about how universal it is and how it operates. In particular, few studies have tested the role of climatic niche conservatism via phenological changes in explaining the reported wide variance in the extent of range shifts among species. Using historical records of the phenology and spatial distribution of British plants under a warming climate, we revealed that: (i) perennial species, as well as those with weaker or lagged phenological responses to temperature, experienced a greater increase in temperature during flowering (i.e. failed to maintain climatic niche via phenological changes); (ii) species that failed to maintain climatic niche via phenological changes showed greater northward range shifts; and (iii) there was a complementary relationship between the levels of climatic niche conservatism via phenological changes and range shifts. These results indicate that even species with high climatic niche conservatism might not show range shifts as instead they track warming temperatures during flowering by advancing their phenology.

Ligorio Marquez Formation and Climatic Niche Evolution of Nothofagus

2014 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
pp. 84-85
Author(s):  
Luis Felipe Hinojosa ◽  
Francisca Campano ◽  
Francy Carvajal ◽  
Mirta Quattrochio ◽  
María Fernanda Pérez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Niche Evolution ◽  
Climatic Niche
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