Areas of endemism of Jamaica: inferences from Parsimony Analysis of Endemism based on amphibian and reptile distributions

Louis Stanely,Brian I Crother,Jon J Murray,Christopher M Murray

doi:10.21426/b636052803

Abstract

Islands represent interesting biogeographic features often defined by unique and dynamic geological and biological components. Such systems serve as examples of the basic fundamental units of biogeographical analyses: areas of endemism. The island of Jamaica is recognized as possessing a unique biota with a large number of herpetofauna species persisting only within the island. Further, Jamaica exhibits a dynamic geologic history characterized by an easterly migration and repeated inundation, resulting in a contemporary biota formed through dispersal. Here, we infer areas of endemism across Jamaica based on 57 amphibian and reptile distributions using Parsimony Analysis and Endemism (PAE). We recover 19 areas of endemism concentrated in two regions: The Blue Mountains region diagnosed by 8 taxa and the west/central limestone plateau region including Cockpit Country and the western Dolphin Head region, diagnosed by 9 taxa. Further discussion on the utility of ambiguous syntaxa in diagnosing extinction, dispersal and ecological patterns as they pertain to biogeographic units is provided.&nbsp

Highlights

As isolated fragments of terrain scattered throughout the vast, expansive hydrosphere of this planet, many islands have long presented an air of allure and intrigue, encompassing an enigmatic realm filled with their own mosaic of dynamic and interactive life forms
The geographical features formed from them are inevitably tied to these species’ distributions, and together, they characterize all or part of these ranges as unique individuals themselves. Defined by both geographical and biological components shared with no other location, these areas form the basic fundamental units of many forms of biogeographical analysis: areas of endemism (Crisci et al 2003, Parenti and Ebach 2009, Crother and Murray 2011)
A strict consensus tree was constructed from the most parsimonious trees (MPTs) (Fig. 1)

Summary

Introduction

As isolated fragments of terrain scattered throughout the vast, expansive hydrosphere of this planet, many islands have long presented an air of allure and intrigue, encompassing an enigmatic realm filled with their own mosaic of dynamic and interactive life forms Their relative geographic insulation and their natural constraints against dispersal and emigration make them ideal natural laboratories, and many have facilitated numerous landmark trials and experiments throughout history, delving into the underlying mechanisms behind geological and biological processes alike (Whittaker et al 2017). The lengthy chronology of fabled journeys and exploits revolving around these life forms and the mysteries surrounding them and their domain outlines, and sometimes obfuscates, the substantially longer and more confounding account of the geological processes that molded these territories into their current forms For this reason, the geographical features formed from them are inevitably tied to these species’ distributions, and together, they characterize all or part of these ranges as unique individuals themselves. Discovery of these areas of endemism are essential in these analyses (Parenti and Ebach 2009, Fattorini 2017), and islands often make ideal testing grounds for diagnosing them, but in tying together the biogeographical, ecological, and anthropogenic factors that both define them and relate them to other areas (Walter 2004, Fattorini and Fowels 2005, Fattorini 2007a)

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