Evolutionary Biogeography Research Articles

Evolutionary biogeography and diversification of Ampithoidae (Crustacea, Amphipoda) in the southwestern Atlantic

Evolutionary biogeography and diversification of Ampithoidae (Crustacea, Amphipoda) in the southwestern Atlantic

Evolution of Silurian phytogeography, with the first report of Aberlemnia (Rhyniopsida) from the Pridoli of West Junggar, Xinjiang, China

The development of phytogeography is an essential aspect of floral evolution. The Silurian is considered a pivotal period for the development of early land vegetation based on both macrofossil and microfossil evidence; however, the evolution of phytogeographic zonation at that time remains controversial. In this paper, we describe a new species of the rhyniopsid, Aberlemnia junggaria sp. nov., from the Pridoli (upper Silurian) of West Junggar, Xinjiang, China. The new plant consists of at least three orders of axes, an oval to reniform terminal sporangium bearing in sparse ultimate axes and sporangium with a nearly enclosed dehiscence line. A dataset of global Silurian macrofossil records was compiled, including 30 species within 24 genera from 38 localities covering 8 main paleogeographic blocks. Using these data, the spatial-temporal distribution of Silurian plant macrofossils was mapped. Biogeographic evolution is revealed for the first time by means of network analysis and cluster analysis, and two phytogeographic realms, the West Junggar-Vietnam and Laurussia-North Gondwana realms are provisionally recognized during the Pridoli Epoch. Considering the widespread microfossil evidence for land plant diversification and dispersal, this global phytogeographic zonation might have onset at an even earlier time.

Phylogeny, taxonomy, and biogeography of the Sphaeriinae (Bivalvia: Sphaeriidae)

Abstract The subfamily Sphaeriinae is a diverse and ecologically significant group of freshwater invertebrates, playing a keystone role in the energy flow and nutrient cycling in aquatic ecosystems. Despite a long history of its study, the taxonomic structure and species content of this group are a matter of ongoing disputes between malacologists. We clarify the taxonomy, distribution, and evolutionary biogeography of the Sphaeriinae around the world based on the largest dataset of DNA sequences of these clams ever accumulated, which includes the data on specimens collected from various continents and countries around the globe. Our 16S rRNA and two-locus phylogenies reveal that the Sphaeriinae is a monophyletic group, containing at least seven genus-level clades: Sphaerium Scopoli, 1777, Pisidium C. Pfeifffer, 1821 (s.s.), Euglesa Jenyns, 1832, Odhneripisidium Kuiper, 1962, Conventus Pirogov & Starobogatov stat. nov., 1974, ‘Pisidium’ sterkianum group, and Hindupisidium Vinarski & Bespalaya gen. nov. Our 16S rRNA phylogenetic tree contains 80 well-supported clades corresponding to the putative species-level taxa. Four species new to science are described here: Euglesa kolymensis Bespalaya, Aksenova & Bolotovsp. nov., Euglesa kyrgyzica Bespalaya, Aksenova, Kondakov & Palatovsp. nov., Euglesa moroccana Bespalaya, Vinarski, Aksenova, Mabrouki, Kondakov & Palatovsp. nov., Odhneripisidium caucasus Bespalaya, Vinarski, Aksenova, Kondakov & Palatovsp. nov. Our fossil-calibrated phylogeny and generalized biogeographic model indicate that the most recent common ancestor of the Sphaeriidae could have originated somewhere within a broad area covering China near the Lower Cretaceous boundary.

Description and evolutionary biogeography of the first Miocene jumping spider (Aranaea: Salticidae) from a southern continent

Abstract Examination of a fossil from a Miocene Konservat-Lagerstätte (c. 11–16 Mya) from Australia shows it to be an astioid jumping spider that is here described as Simaetha sp. indet. Fossilization in the iron oxide–hydroxide mineral goethite led to a high-fidelity preservation of not only the exterior, but of the pharyngeal plate and a neuropile in the cephalothorax. The discovery of the fossil supports the molecular-based hypothesis that the Late Oligocene/Early Miocene radiation of astioid genera occurred in Australasia. Modern Asian genera then would be the result of northward migrations from Australia rather than a movement in the other direction. Biogeographically, the Miocene Simaetha fits within the predicted bioclimatic distribution of the genus today, though the bioclimatic requirements of the fossil species are now found in eastern Queensland rather than in central New South Wales. Simaetha, it seems has retained its original bioclimatic profile for 15 Myr, even though climatic and ecological conditions in Australia have changed significantly. The fossil record now shows the independent evolution of modern genera during the Early Miocene in at least five different salticid lineages on two continents. These salticid radiations occurred at a time of planet-wide, rapid climatic and ecological change.

Integrative Taxonomic Reappraisal and Evolutionary Biogeography of the Most Diverse Freshwater Mussel Clade from Southeast Asia (Pseudodontini)

Freshwater mussels belonging to the tribe Pseudodontini (Bivalvia: Unionidae: Gonideinae) play a keystone role in riverine and lacustrine environments throughout Southeast Asia. Many of them are narrowly endemic and habitat specialists, which need special conservation efforts. Unfortunately, the systematics of this group is rather poorly understood. Here, we show that Pseudodon inoscularis, the type species of the genus Pseudodon, belongs to the eastern clade of the tribe (Southeast Asia, east of the Salween Basin), and, more certainly, clusters with members of the genus Monodontina. Hence, the latter genus becomes a synonym of Pseudodon, while the subtribe Pseudodontina (=Pilsbryoconchina syn. nov.) should be used as a name for the eastern clade. In turn, the genus Indopseudodon stat. rev. and the subtribe Indopseudodontina subtr. nov. must be applied as valid names for the western clade of the Pseudodontini (Ayeyarwady to Salween). We present a revision of the genus Indopseudodon with an updated synonymy and a description of a new species, I. indawgyiensis sp. nov. We also link four species-level genetic lineages from the Mekong to available taxonomic names in the genera Pseudodon and Sundadontina (Pseudodon cambodjensis, P. vagulus, Sundadontina harmandi, and S. sulcata). Based on morphological features, we revise the taxonomic position of several recent and fossil species that were traditionally placed in the Pseudodontini and transfer them to the genera Parvasolenaia, Pseudodontopsis, Ptychorhynchus, Simpsonasus nom. nov. (a new name for Nasus Simpson, 1900) (Gonideinae: Gonideini), Pseudobaphia (Unioninae: Unionini), Balwantia and Lamellidens (Parreysiinae: Lamellidentini).

Biogeographic-tectonic calibration of 14 nodes in a butterfly timetree.

The butterfly subtribe Coenonymphina (Nymphalidae: Satyrinae) comprises four main clades found, respectively, in (1) the Solomon Islands, (2) Australasia, (3) NW South America and (4) Laurasia, with a phylogeny: 1 (2 (3 + 4)). In assessing biogeographic evolution in the group we rejected the conversion of fossil-calibrated clade ages to likely maximum clade ages by the imposition of arbitrary priors. Instead, we used biogeographic-tectonic calibration, with fossil-calibrated ages accepted as minima. Previous studies have used this approach to date single nodes (phylogenetic-biogeographic breaks) in a group, but we extended the methodology to date multiple nodes. Within the Coenonymphina as a whole, 14 nodes coincide spatially with ten major tectonic events. In addition, the phylogenetic sequence of these nodes conforms to the chronological sequence of the tectonic events, consistent with a vicariance origin of the clades. Dating of the spatially coincident tectonic features provides a timescale for the vicariance events. The tectonic events are: pre-drift intracontinental rifting between India and Australia (150 Ma); seafloor spreading at the margins of the growing Pacific plate, and between North and South America (140 Ma); magmatism flare-up along the SW Pacific Whitsunday Volcanic Province-Median Batholith (130 Ma); a change from extension in the Clarence basin, eastern Australia, to uplift of the Great Dividing Range (114 Ma); Pamir Mountains uplift, foreland basin dynamics and high eustatic sea-levels leading to marine transgression of the proto-Paratethys Ocean eastward to Central Asia and Xinjiang (100 Ma); predrift rifting and seafloor spreading west of New Caledonia (100-50 Ma); sinistral strike-slip displacement along the proto-Alpine fault, New Zealand (100-80 Ma); thrust faulting in the Longmen Shan and foreland basin dynamics around the Sichuan Basin (85 Ma); pre-drift rifting in the Coral Sea basin (85 Ma); and dextral displacement on the Alpine fault (20 Ma).

Endemic lineages of spiny frogs demonstrate the biogeographic importance and conservational needs of the Hindu Kush–Himalaya region

AbstractThe relict, endemic taxa Allopaa and Chrysopaa are key elements of the Hindu Kush–Himalayan amphibian fauna and potentially share a similar biogeographic evolution, making them important proxies for the reconstruction of the palaeoenvironmental and palaeotopographic history of the Himalaya–Tibet–Orogen. However, little is known about the taxonomy, phylogeography, genetic diversity and distribution of these taxa. We here provide new molecular data on Himalayan spiny frogs and species distribution models (SDMs) for A. hazarensis and C. sternosignata. The results reveal a better resolved phylogeny of these frogs compared to previous trees and strongly support the placement of A. hazarensis in the genus Nanorana. We further identify a so far unknown clade from the western Himalayas in Nanorana, apart from the subgroups Chaparana, Paa and the nominal Nanorana. In A. hazarensis, genetic diversity is relatively low. The results strengthen support for the recently proposed out-of-Tibet-into-the-Himalayan-exile hypothesis and a trans-Tibet dispersal of ancestral spiny frogs during the Palaeogene. Moreover, SDMs provide the first detailed distribution maps of A. hazarensis and C. sternosignata and strong evidence for distinct niche divergence among the two taxa. Our findings contribute to the knowledge about the distribution of these species and provide basic information for guiding future conservation management of them.

Evolutionary biogeography of the Revillagigedo Archipelago, Mexico

ABSTRACT The biotic assembly of the Revillagigedo Archipelago, Mexico, was analysed under an evolutionary biogeographic framework. We undertook a parsimony analysis of endemicity with progressive character elimination of 194 plant and animal species, which allowed us to identify the archipelago as a complex area or node where Nearctic and Neotropical biotic components overlap. We undertook a cladistic biogeographic analysis using the phylogenetic information of 42 taxon-area cladograms, from which one general-area cladogram was obtained: (Revillagigedo, (Sonoran, (Baja California, (Veracruzan, Pacific Lowlands)))). These results suggest that the Revillagigedo Archipelago may be classified as a province, although we prefer to keep it as a district of the Pacific Lowlands province. We identified two cenocrons (temporally integrated set of taxa) that can be dated to the Pliocene–Pleistocene: one Nearctic that dispersed from the Baja California Peninsula, and another Neotropical where the species dispersed from the Pacific coast to the islands. The geological information and the general-area cladograms allowed us to propose a geobiotic scenario for the archipelago where the islands are probably the result of volcanism associated with the oceanic Mathematician Ridge, and the arrival of the cenocrons to the archipelago may have occurred during the Pliocene–Pleistocene, after the islands were available for colonisation.

Coexistence of savanna and rainforest on the ice-age Sunda Shelf revealed by pollen records from southern South China Sea

Exposure of the presently submerged continental shelf of Southeast Asia during low sea-level stands of the Quaternary is thought to be deeply involved in the biogeographic evolution of this biodiversity hotspot. Inland proxy records are mounting to argue grassland expansions over Southeast Asia during glacial periods, lending supports to the existence of a transequatorial “savanna corridor” as hypothesized. However, pollen records retrieved from marine sediments have indicated widespread rainforests on the exposed northern Sunda Shelf. To reconcile these seemingly conflicting observations, here we present new, multisite marine pollen records from the southern South China Sea focusing on the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) time interval. It is found that the sites in front of the Sunda Shelf palaeo-rivers contain substantially more Poaceae pollen, in particular a smaller size fraction, than the site offshore North Borneo. Among the sites, abundant lowland tree pollen with similar major taxa is also observed. The co-occurrence of grass and rainforest pollen suggests a longitudinal climate gradient with increasing aridity toward the interior of glacial Sundaland. Combining our results with various palynological evidence from marine sediments seems to indicate that the vegetation on the exposed Sunda Shelf might not be fully recognized by previous studies. This is likely due to an admixture of pollen from other source regions, particularly Borneo where the rainforest was retained during glacial periods. Therefore, the extant vegetation records, from both terrestrial and marine archives, support the hypothesis of a “savanna corridor” over the LGM sundaland.

A new long-snouted marine reptile from the Middle Triassic of China illuminates pachypleurosauroid evolution

Sauropterygia is the largest, most successful group of Mesozoic marine diapsids, spanning from the late Early Triassic to the Late Cretaceous. Plesiomorphic for sauropterygians, pachypleurosauroids are important for our understanding on the early evolution of this group. Here, we present a new pachypleurosaurid, Luopingosaurus imparilis gen. et sp. nov., based on an exceptionally preserved skeleton from the early Middle Triassic Luoping Lagerstätte in Yunnan, China. The discovery documents the first long-snouted pachypleurosaurid with an unexpected hyperphalangy in the manus, providing new insights into the morphological diversification, ecological adaption and biogeographic evolution of this clade. The discovery further indicates that there is a morphological divergence between short-snouted (brevirostrine) keichousaurids and relatively long-snouted (longirostrine) pachypleurosaurids, which was probably driven by ecological specializations related to feeding and foraging. Additionally, an evolutionary trend towards the reduction of the ratio of the hyoid length to mandibular length (HM ratio) is recognized in pachypleurosauroids. This reduction of HM ratio, associated with the increase of the snout length, might implicate a gradual recession of suction feeding in pachypleurosauroid evolution. Phylogenetic studies incorporating Luopingosaurus recover European pachypleurosaurids as successive sister groups to Chinese derived pachypleurosaurids, supporting a western Tethyan origin for this family.

New insights from network analysis on the biogeography of antiarchs (jawed stem-Gnathostomata)

Although many hypotheses have been proposed on the biogeographic evolution of early vertebrates in Silurian and Devonian, it is still difficult to reach a consensus. DeepBone.org is a specimen-based online database hosting data of vertebrate paleontology and paleoanthropology. Here we use comprehensive records of stem gnathostomes in DeepBone to analyse the historical biogragraphy of antiarchs, a primitive group of jawed stem-Gnathostomata. We propose a network analysis-based approach to help quantify and identify pivotal biogeographic provinces. We first segmented biogeographic provinces following the conventional hypothesis and then constructed a directed-weighted temporal-biogeographic network using the Bray-Curtis dissimilarity. Finally, we proposed Evolutionary Importance (EI), a novel algorithm to identify the pivotal province, which has a substantial impact on the constituent members of the provinces in the following age quantitatively. Six biogeographic provinces were evaluated including East Gondwana, Pan-Cathaysia, Central Asia, Baltica, Siberia, and Laurentia. The EI score analysis reveals that the Pan-Cathaysia in Lochkovian is the most crucial province for antiarchs. The Siberia, Baltica, and Central Asia provinces in Givetian and Frasnian are essential to the dispersal of antiarchs, whereas the Central Asia province might act as a ‘stepping-stone’ for the dispersal of euantiarchs. Yunnanolepidoids, which are the most plesiomorphic antiarchs, were endemic in the Pan-Cathaysia, highlighting the origin of Antiarcha in this province. Sinolepidoids also originated in the Pan-Cathaysia and were endemic in the Pan-Cathaysia and East Gondwana provinces. Among euantiarchs, bothriolepidoids originated and differentiated in the Pan-Cathaysia province, while asterolepidoids originated and differentiated in the East Gondwana province.

Unravelling the species diversity, phylogeny and biogeography of the mycoheterotrophic Voyrieae (Gentianaceae) and the description of a new species

AbstractBecause different tropical forest regions possess their own species diversity and communities, it is crucial to investigate the diversification history of their biota to understand how biodiversity was assembled. However, this requires reliable species concepts and robust, well‐sampled phylogenies. Here we focus on the fully mycoheterotrophic genus Voyria (Gentianaceae) and its diversification history in the Neotropics. We use a likelihood‐based approach to test species boundaries in Voyria with a population‐level ITS dataset and we build an extensive multigene species‐level phylogenetic framework for Voyria, which we use to infer the biogeographic evolution of the genus. We find strong support for the established morphology‐based species delimitation in this genus but we also discover a new species, which we describe here. Ancestral area reconstructions place the origin of the Voyrieae in the Guianas. Frequent exchange with other forest regions is inferred to have started from the Oligocene and continued toward the present. In these exchanges, the Guianas appeared to have acted as the most important source, while other regions mainly functioned as sinks. We conclude that well‐sampled phylogenies of fully mycoheterotrophic plants, which are ecologically restricted to rainforest habitats, can be instrumental to test hypotheses on rainforest biome evolution.

Three dispersal routes out of Africa: A puzzling biogeographical history in freshwater planarians

AbstractAimFreshwater planarians may have a wide geographical range despite their assumed low vagility. Found across four continents, Dugesia may have either an ancient origin on a large palaeo landmass, followed by colonisation in different regions before continental fragmentation, or a more recent origin and subsequent transoceanic dispersal. We seek to resolve between these two hypotheses.LocationAfrica, Eurasia and Australasia.TaxonGenus Dugesia (Platyhelminthes: Tricladida: Dugesiidae).MethodsWe used data from the sequencing of six gene fragments and comprehensive taxonomic sampling of Dugesia from across its distribution range to reconstruct the phylogeny of this genus using maximum likelihood and bayesian inference methods. We conducted two phylogenetic dating analyses using Platyhelminthes fossils and palaeogeological events. Basing on the time‐calibrated molecular phylogenetic framework we evaluated the contribution of vicariance and dispersal to the biogeographical evolution of Dugesia. By reconstructing the ancestral areas and present‐day potential distribution using BioGeoBEARS and niche modelling, we elucidated the biogeographical history of the genus.ResultsThe present‐day distribution of Dugesia is a result of different vicariance and dispersal events. However, we also found evidence of transoceanic dispersal. Consistent with previous hypotheses, Dugesia dates to the Upper Jurassic in the Afro‐Malagasy Gondwana region. We unveiled a novel biogeographical scenario for the genus, involving multiple events of colonisation in Eurasia from continental Africa via at least three dispersal routes.Main conclusionsDugesia is an ancient genus having reached its present distribution through a complex history of dispersal and vicariant events following its origin in southern Gondwana. Despite the low vagility of Dugesia, we found evidence of their overseas dispersal.

Matthew's (1915) climate and evolution, the "New York School of Biogeography", and the rise and fall of "Holarcticism".

Climate and evolution (Matthew, 1915) represents an important contribution to evolutionary biogeography, that influenced several authors, notably Karl P. Schmidt, George S. Myers, George G. Simpson, Philip J. Darlington, Ernst Mayr, Thomas Barbour, John C. Poynton, Allen Keast, Léon Croizat, Robin Craw, Michael Heads, and Osvaldo A. Reig. Authors belonging to the "New York School of Zoogeography" -a research community including Matthew, Schmidt, Myers and Simpson- accepted Matthew's "Holarcticism" (north temperate centers of origin) and the permanence of ocean basins and continents, whereas others, especially panbiogeographers and cladistic biogeographers, were extremely critical and reacted against these ideas. "Holarcticism" has been falsified and rejected by dispersalists and the "New York School of Zoogeography" disappeared in the 1970s. Matthew, however, continues being identified by panbiogeographers and cladistic biogeographers as a key representative of classic dispersalism, helping provide some cohesion to their research communities.

Comparative Genomic Analysis Reveals Preserved Features in Organohalide-Respiring Sulfurospirillum Strains.

ABSTRACTSulfurospirillum species strains are frequently detected in various pristine and contaminated environments and participate in carbon, sulfur, nitrogen, and halogen elements cycling. Recently we obtained the complete genome sequences of two newly isolated Sulfurospirillum strains, ACSDCE and ACSTCE, capable of dechlorinating tetrachloroethene to cis-1,2-dichloroethene and trichloroethene under low-pH conditions, but a detailed analysis of these two genomes in reference to other Sulfurospirillum genomes for an improved understanding of Sulfurospirillum evolution and ecophysiology has not been accomplished. Here, we performed phylogenetic and pangenome analyses with 12 completed Sulfurospirillum genomes, including those of strain ACSTCE and strain ACSDCE, to unravel the evolutionary and metabolic potentials in the genus Sulfurospirillum. Based on 16S rRNA gene and whole-genome phylogenies, strains ACSTCE, ACSDCE, and JPD-1 could be clustered into a single species, proposed as “Candidatus Sulfurospirillum acididehalogenans.” TimeTree analysis suggested that the organohalide-respiring (OHR) Sulfurospirillum might acquire the ability to use chlorinated electron acceptors later than other energy conservation processes. Nevertheless, the ambiguity of the phylogenetic relations among Sulfurospirillum strains complicated the interpretation of acquisition and loss of metabolic traits. Interestingly, all OHR Sulfurospirillum genomes except the ones of Sulfurospirillum multivorans strains harbor a well-aligned and conserved region comprising the genetic components required for the organohalide respiration chain. Pangenome results further revealed that a total of 34,620 gene products, annotated from the 12 Sulfurospirillum genomes, can be classified into 4,118 homolog families and 2,075 singleton families. Various Sulfurospirillum species strains have conserved metabolisms as well as individual enzymes and biosynthesis capabilities. For instance, only the OHR Sulfurospirillum species strains possess the quinone-dependent pyruvate dehydrogenase (PoxB) gene, and only “Ca. Sulfurospirillum acididehalogenans” strains harbor urea transporter and urease genes. The plasmids found in strain ACSTCE and strain ACSDCE feature genes coding for type II toxin-antitoxin systems and transposases and are promising tools for the development of robust gene editing tools for Sulfurospirillum.IMPORTANCE Organohalide-respiring bacteria (OHRB) play critical roles in the detoxification of chlorinated pollutants and bioremediation of subsurface environments (e.g., groundwater and sediment) impacted by anthropogenic chlorinated solvents. The majority of known OHRB cannot perform reductive dechlorination below neutral pH, hampering the applications of OHRB for remediating acidified groundwater due to fermentation and reductive dechlorination. Previously we isolated two Sulfurospirillum strains, ACSTCE and ACSDCE, capable of dechlorinating tetrachloroethene under acidic conditions (e.g., pH 5.5), and obtained the complete genomes of both strains. Notably, two plasmid sequences were identified in the genomes of strain ACSTCE and strain ACSDCE that may be conducive to unraveling the genetic modification mechanisms in the genus Sulfurospirillum. Our findings improve the current understanding of Sulfurospirillum species strains regarding their biogeographic evolution, genome dynamics, and functional diversity. This study has applied values for the bioremediation of toxic and persistent organohalide pollutants in low-pH environments.

Whence Came These Plants Most Foul? Phylogenomics and Biogeography of Lowiaceae (Zingiberales)

Lowiaceae (order Zingiberales) is a small family of forest herbs in Southeast Asia. All species belong to the genus Orchidantha. They are known for possessing orchid-like flowers that are smelly, apparently mimicking dead animals, feces, or mushrooms. Little is known of the biogeographic patterns or character evolution of the family. We sampled the family extensively, including many recently discovered species, and reconstructed the phylogeny of the family using HybSeq with Lowiaceae-specific RNA baits. Our phylogenetic reconstructions confirm that the family is most closely related to Strelitziaceae, and that species with dark, foul-smelling flowers form a grade in which a clade of species with paler flowers are embedded. The pale-flowered species produce a distinct odor, resembling edible mushrooms. Apart from a single species, the species from Borneo form a clade, and the same is true for Indochinese species. The remaining species form a more widespread clade. A biogeographic analysis shows that the distribution of Lowiaceae can explained by vicariance and gradual dispersal from a shared ancestral range of Borneo and Indochina. There is no evidence of long-distance dispersal, only a later extension in distribution to Peninsular Malaysia which coincides with the presence of a land bridge. Different directions of spread are possible, but none require long-distance dispersal. The results are consistent with the geological history of Southeast Asia. In particular, the relatively early isolation between Indochina and Borneo could be explained by the presence of a sea barrier that developed 10–15 MYA, and the continuous movement of plant species between Borneo and Peninsular Malaysia could be explained by a land bridge that existed until c. 5 MYA. The lack of an extensive land bridge with a suitable habitat may explain the absence of this genus from Sumatra and other Indonesian islands aside from Borneo. The strict reliance on a continuous habitat for the range expansion of Lowiaceae can be explained by their fruits and seeds, which lack obvious adaptations for long-distance dispersal. The inability to disperse to new areas may also explain why the extant species have very restricted distributions.

Reconstruction of the evolutionary biogeography reveals the origin and diversification of Arisaema (Araceae)

Reconstruction of the evolutionary biogeography reveals the origin and diversification of Arisaema (Araceae)

Reconstruction of the evolutionary biogeography reveals the origins of Alpinia Roxb. (Zingiberaceae): A case of “out-of-Asia” migration to the Southern Hemisphere

Alpinia is considered the largest genus of Zingiberaceae with ca. 250 species occurring in tropical and subtropical Asia, Australia, and Pacific Islands. The historical biogeography of Alpinia was conducted to explain where Alpinia originated and how it migrated to other regions. The phylogeny, divergence times and ancestral area reconstruction of Alpinia were performed by using the molecular data based on the comprehensive taxon sampling. Our results provide an objective approach to understand the historical biogeography of Alpinia. The genus originated in Asia during the Late Cretaceous ca. 69 Ma and started to diverge after the K-Pg boundary during the early Paleocene with the presence and development of the tropical rainforest and a warm, moist climate. Alpinia migrated to Malesia and then dispersed to Australasia. The molecular analyses supported the diversification of Alpinia in Asia and Malesia. Additionally, the Indian Alpinia has likely a common ancestor with Renealmia and Aframomum, and it is possible that after originating in Asia, Alpinia migrated from Asia to India then to Africa during the early period of collision between the Indian subcontinent and Eurasia to form the common ancestor of Indian Alpinia, Renealmia, and Aframomum. Our phylogeny provides a framework for studies in biogeography, comparative ecology, and evolution.

A fossil fish assemblage from the middle Miocene of the Cocinetas Basin, northern Colombia

AbstractFreshwater fossil fish faunas have long been used to infer past drainage connections, given that they are bounded by physical freshwater barriers. Here we study a middle Miocene (15.0–15.5 Ma) freshwater fish fossil fauna (Makaraipao) from the Castilletes Formation in northern Colombia, nowadays west of the Andes. We record the presence of lungfishes (Lepidosiren), pacus (Mylossoma and Piaractus), armoured catfishes (Callichthyidae), and red‐tail catfishes (Phractocephalus). Extant members of all those groups (except the Callichthyidae, due to lack of taxonomic resolution) are found in Amazonian faunas east of the Andes and are absent from faunas west of the Andes, indicating that the riverine systems of the Guajira Peninsula were connected to Amazonia during the middle Miocene. The similarity of La Venta (west of the Andes) and Rio Acre (east of the Andes) fish faunas during the late Miocene further indicates that the northern Andean uplift was not a complete barrier at least until c. 11 Ma. However, there is a continental‐wide structuring of the Miocene fish faunas that is also found in the extant faunas, suggesting that other factors such as ecological conditions, in addition to the uplift of the Andes, have shaped the biogeographic evolution of South American fish faunas.

Reconstruction of the evolutionary biogeography reveal the origins and diversification of oysters (Bivalvia: Ostreidae)

Oysters (Bivalvia: Ostreidae Rafinesque, 1815) live in the intertidal and shallow subtidal areas worldwide. Despite their long evolutionary histories, abundant fossil records, global distribution, and ecological significance, a systematic time-dependent biogeographical analysis of this family is still lacking. Using combined mitochondrial (COI and 16S rRNA) and nuclear (18S rRNA, 28S rRNA, H3 and ITS2) gene makers for 80% (70/88) of the recognized extant Ostreidae, we reconstructed the global phylogenetic and biogeographical relationships throughout the evolutionary history of oysters. The result provided a holistic view of the origin, migration and dispersal patterns of Ostreidae. The phylogenetic results and fossil evidence indicated that Ostreidae originated from the circum-Arctic region in the Early Jurassic. The widening of the Atlantic Ocean and changes in the Tethys Ocean further facilitated their subsequent diversification during the Cretaceous and the Palaeogene periods. In particular, Crassostrea and Saccostrea exhibited relatively low dispersal abilities and their major diversifications were consistent with the tectonic events. Environmental adaptations and reproductive patterns, therefore, should play key roles in the formation of oyster distribution patterners, rather than the dispersal ability of their planktonic larvae. The diversity dynamics inferred by standard phylogenetic are consistent with the fossil record, however, further systematic classification, especially for fossil genus Ostrea, would enhance our understanding on extant and fossil oysters. The present study of the historical biogeography of oysters provides new insights into the evolution and speciation of oysters. Our findings also provide a foundation for the assessment of evolutionary patterns and ecological processes in intertidal and inshore life.