Parsimony Analysis Of Endemicity Research Articles

Areas of Endemism and Biogeographic Regionalization of the Iberian Peninsula Based on Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Based on the distribution of 275 species of ants native to the Iberian Peninsula (IP), we identified areas of endemism (AE) within its geographical limits and present a biogeographic regionalization using two complementary methods and two types of operational geographical units. For endemicity analysis (EA), we used a 100 km2 grid cell, and for parsimony analysis of endemicity (PAE), we used hydrological basins as natural units. The EA revealed twelve areas of endemism that were grouped into five consensus areas. These are the Northeastern area, South plateau, Guadalquivir Valley, Baetic System, and Iberian Peninsula (whole). PAE resulted in a cladogram that classified hydrological basins into at least two successively nested subsets: an Atlantic group that is more related to northern European fauna and an Iberian subset that is well supported by synapomorphies. The Iberian subset was differentiated into four main areas: (a) a Northeastern area formed by the Pyrenees and the Catalan Coastal Range, (b) a mainland area containing the Central System and Guadiana and Tajo valleys, (c) a Southern area consisting of the Guadalquivir Valley and the Baetic System, and (d) a Northern coastal area. The results showed congruence between the two methods since many of the synapomorphies are shared among the diagnostic and IP endemic species of the EA. Both EA and PAE showed the relevance of the heterogeneous peninsular orography that combines mountainous regions with valleys and plateaus, which have acted as historical barriers or corridors. The presence of numerous endemic species, particularly in the southern third of the IP, suggests that several Iberian refuges for ants originated during glacial periods. These areas constitute priority sites for the conservation of ants in particular and biodiversity in general on the IP and allow further research about the processes that generated these distributional patterns.

Distribution pattern in the rupiculous genus Orthophytum (Bromelioideae/Bromeliaceae) reveals high microendemicity in different types of rocky outcrops.

This study aimed to recognize the biogeographic patterns, richness, and diversity levels of the Brazilian endemic genus Orthophytum and identify their biotic components through a parsimony analysis of endemicity (PAE), to better understand the evolutionary history of this group and develop strategies for the conservation of its species. We prepared a database for the 54 currently known species of Orthophytum, including their geographical locations as obtained from digital databases of the principal herbaria of Brazil, Europe, and the USA. A parsimony analysis of endemicity (PAE) was used to delimit the areas of endemism based on two grids' sizes (1º x 1º and 2º × 2º). The majority rule consensus tree resulting from the PAE indicated three areas of endemism with high bootstrap, diversity, and richness indices: the northern portion of the Espinhaço Range, the southern portion of the Espinhaço Range, and the central portion of the Atlantic Forest. The recognition of those distribution patterns reveals a high number of microendemic species, which is discussed here.

Biogeographic patterns of the freshwater fishes from the state of Espírito Santo, eastern Brazil

ABSTRACT Biogeographic studies offer valuable insights into the origin, distribution and extinction of biodiversity. As such, this study aims to identify patterns of diversity and distribution of freshwater ichthyofauna in the state of Espírito Santo, to delineate biogeographic units and to propose a hypothesis of area relationship. A database containing information on 123 fish species occurrences was compiled to conduct analyses of species richness interpolation, bioregionalization, sampling effort interpolation, endemism, and a parsimony analysis of endemism. The sampling effort in Espírito Santo is uneven, with higher representativeness of sampling sites in the highlands. Six freshwater ichthyofauna bioregions were identified, along with three major areas of increased species richness, two consensus areas of endemism and three groups of basins. The central basins of the state are characterized by a marked presence of endemic species. The southern basins also stand out as an area of endemism and density of species typical of mountainous environments, such as loricariids; they are also characterized by a significant faunal overlap with the Rio Paraíba do Sul basin. The results of this biogeographic evaluation reinforce the perception that the watersheds of the state of Espírito Santo have a diverse and characteristic freshwater fish fauna, with well-defined biogeographic units.

Where are they from and where are they going? Detecting areas of endemism, distribution patterns and conservation status of the order Spirostreptida in Brazil (Diplopoda, Juliformia)

Millipedes are well-known for their limited dispersal abilities with species restricted to mountains, islands, and patches of forest being important models for formulating and testing biogeographic hypotheses. The order Spirostreptida is composed of nearly 1300 species distributed across the Afrotropical, Oriental, and Neotropical regions. The order is divided into the suborders Cambalidea and Spirostreptidea with the families Pseudonannolenidae (Cambalidea) and Spirostreptidae (Spirostreptidea) occurring in Brazil. To date, there have been no studies on the biogeography of Neotropical Spirostreptida. We employed a multi-approach analysis with Parsimony Analysis of Endemicity, Endemicity Analysis, and Infomap, to detect areas of endemism and patterns of distribution of the order in Brazil. Six areas of endemism are proposed for the 133 Brazilian species: Northern Serra Geral, Southeastern mountain ranges, Cerrado and Atlantic Forest zone, Eastern Cerrado and Serra do Espinhaço, Pantanal, and Southern Amazon and Cerrado zone. Most endemic areas fall within the Atlantic Forest, which has been previously shown to be an important area of endemism for many invertebrate taxa. The richest biomes are the Atlantic Forest with 75 species and the Cerrado with 55 species, while the least rich biomes are the Caatinga with six species and the Pampa with three species. Although the southeastern region of Brazil has the highest species richness, it also has the highest concentration of threatened species. Based on International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) criteria, most Brazilian Spirostreptida are either endangered or critically endangered, with the highest concentration of endangered taxa occurring in the Atlantic Forest biome.

Biogeographic patterns of hydrozoans in the Gulf of Mexico and adjacent waters: biological assemblages, beta diversity, and endemism

The biogeography of hydrozoans encompasses a broad scope of study that involves various challenges due to their diverse distributional strategies and life cycle characteristics. This work aims to study the biogeographic patterns of hydrozoans in the Gulf of Mexico. Occurrence records on hydrozoans were compiled through the Global Biodiversity Facility Information database and peer-reviewed literature. Biogeographic patterns were addressed through (1) the identification of biological assemblages, using hierarchical clustering with contiguity constraint; (2) the decomposition of beta diversity into species replacement, nestedness, and local contribution to beta diversity (LCBD); and (3) the identification of areas of endemism with a parsimony analysis of endemicity (PAE). The northern Gulf of Mexico and the Yucatán Peninsula contain a large hydrozoan assemblage that splits into smaller groups at different levels, characterized by species replacement and high LCBD values. By contrast, the southern Gulf of Mexico contains a homogenous assemblage, which exhibits low LCBD values and contributes strongly to nestedness. PAE identified 19 areas of higher-level endemism, concentrated mainly in shelf zones of the Yucatán and Florida peninsulas. The distribution patterns of hydrozoans in the Gulf of Mexico may be shaped by the life cycle characteristics of the taxa and the geological history of the region, relating either to neritic or oceanic zones. The northern Gulf reflects a heterogeneous biological composition with a complex biogeographical history, which makes this area of particular interest for future studies, as it likely represents a transition zone. This premise must be corroborated in the future.

An updated biogeographic evaluation of endemism and conservation of small mammals from Chile

AbstractEcological factors such as temperature, precipitation, and vegetation type have been reported to influence biogeographic patterns (e.g., species distribution, richness, and endemism) in mammals. In Chile, these patterns only had been explored in selected mammal groups from certain localities. In this study, we describe and analyze biogeographic patterns for all small mammals (marsupials, armadillos, bats, rodents), reported until 2020, in different climatic and ecological regions from continental Chile. Using a compiled database of 89 species, we estimated their distributional similarity, described and characterized richness and areas of endemism using Bayesian and Parsimony Analysis of Endemism, and linked species distribution with conservation status according to the IUCN Red List. We found three similarity units of species distribution based on climate: Arid, Temperate, and Polar; higher richness and endemism in north and south-central Chile; two areas of endemism, one in north and one in south; and a hotspot in south-central Chile. Finally, species of greater conservation concern showed a similar and small distribution range. The concordance in the distribution of the species with Chilean climatic regions (as determined by precipitation and temperature) suggest that the spatial distribution of Chilean small mammals is influenced strongly by those abiotic factors. This also could explain the patterns of richness and endemism and, therefore species hotspots. Variations of climatic factors therefore should be considered in explaining biogeographic patterns and conservation plans of Chilean small mammal species, because species of greater concern tend to be associated and having similar distributional characteristics.

Exploring the Species Richness Pattern and Areas of Endemism of Tenebrionidae (Coleoptera) in Xinjiang, China

Species richness and areas of endemicity (AOE) are the basis of biogeography, which is of great significance for understanding the evolution of species and making conservation plans. The present study aimed to investigate the species richness pattern and AOEs of Tenebrionidae in Xinjiang, China. We collected information on the geographical distribution of 556 species from several sources and obtained 2226 distribution records for the analyses. The AOEs were detected using the parsimony analysis of endemicity (PAE) and endemicity analysis (EA) at 0.5°, 1°, and 1.5° grid sizes, respectively. A total of six AOEs were found, including three mountain ranges (Altai Mountains, Tianshan Mountains, and Kunlun Mountains) and one basin (Junggar Basin), which was largely congruent with the species richness pattern. The results indicated that the complex terrain and stable climate in the mountainous area played an important role in the formation of tenebrionid species diversity and their endemic areas in Xinjiang.

Effect of a fun virtual purposeful active play program on children's physical fitness during home quarantine due to the outbreak of Covid-19

The order Amphipoda is one of the most diverse taxa that globally distributed in all environments and virtually habitats. The members of genus Niphargus represent an important part of the Western Palearctic subterranean amphipoda fauna. Accurate data on the occurrence and distribution of amphipods are only available for some regions. In this study, we were applied Parsimony analysis of endemicity (PAE) to analyze the distribution of amphipod freshwater genus Niphargus occurring strictly at the basin or sub-basin level along of Elburz and Zagros Mountains in Iran. The analysis was carried out using the computer program PAUP* 4.0a166, based on a data matrix built with 27 taxa and 13 areas for genus Niphargus. The rooting was made on a hypothetical all-zero out-group. Applying the exact algorithm heuristic search, the consensus tree was obtained with 30 steps, a consistency index of 0.9, and a retention index of 0.1. The procedure based on distributions of the 27 species of Niphargus delimited five areas of endemism in the study area with minimum two species. The high levels of endemism observed in West boundary rivers1 sub basin with six species and then in Urmia and West boundary rivers2 sub basins with three species.

Patterns of endemism of the Chinese Larentiinae (Lepidoptera: Geometridae).

Chinese Larentiinae is exceptionally rich in species since it spans the Palearctic realm and the Oriental realm, comprising 715 species belonging to 130 genera. Among them, nearly half species are endemic. This taxon is considered an ideal object for the study of endemic patterns. In this study, parsimony analysis of endemicity was used to delineate areas of endemisms (AOEs), and track compatibility analysis (TCA) was used to perform the TCA. Eight AOEs were supported. Except for five AOEs around the Qinghai-Tibet plateau (QTP), two AOEs from northern China and Taiwan islands were found. Twenty-two generalized tracks were obtained from the combination of the track analysis and the AOEs. The uplift of the QTP was assumed to greatly influence these endemic patterns, presented an appearance of highly centralized endemism and diversity in the eastern and southern edges of the QTP. And the AOE of Mt. Hengduan was considered as a major center of development through recent geological history, where strong evolutionary radiation might have taken place, resulting in the migration routes described by the generalized tracks from this center to various regions in various directions.

Assessing the Diversity and Distribution Pattern of the Speciose Genus Lycocerus (Coleoptera: Cantharidae) by the Global-Scale Data

Species richness patterns and endemism on the large-scale play a significant role in biogeography and biodiversity conservation. This study aimed to explore the diversity centers and endemic areas of a large cantharid genus Lycocerus, so as to test whether the hypothesis of montane and island systems biodiversity in previous studies was supported. In this study, a comprehensive species’ geographical database on the global scale consisting of 4,227 records for 324 Lycocerus species was compiled and analyzed. Species richness pattern was mapped into a grid-based map with a spatial resolution of 1° × 1° fishnet. An unbalanced pattern was identified, and it showed that the centers of species richness of Lycocerus were situated in Eastern Himalayas, Hengduan Mountains, Eastern Sichuan Mountains, Taiwan, and Japan. Further analyses based on two approaches, including parsimony analysis of endemicity (PAE) and endemicity analysis (EA), were applied to detect areas of endemism (AOEs) at three different grid sizes (1°, 1.5°, and 2°). Finally, a total of nine AOEs were detected, including five montane areas (Himalayan areas, Hengduan Mountains, South edge of China, Eastern China Mountains, and Eastern Sichuan Mountains), three islands (Taiwan Island, Japan, and Korean Peninsula), and one plateau (Shan Plateau), which were generally consistent with the species richness pattern. The results verify that montane and island systems have an essential role in promoting the formation of diversity centers and AOEs because of their complex topography, varied habitat and geological events.

Distribution patterns, endemism, richness and diversity of Convolvulaceae in the Espinhaço Range, Brazil

The Espinhaço Range is known for its unique plant diversity and richness of endemic species. We identified the distribution patterns, areas of endemism, floristic similarity, and the areas of richness and diversity of Convolvulaceae within the Espinhaço Range by analyzing a database of approximately 2600 occurrence records. One hundred and eighty-four taxa were categorized into one of four distribution patterns: continuous, disjunct, centered in the Bahia sector, and centered in the Minas Gerais sector. Nineteen Convolvulaceae species are endemic to Espinhaço Range. Endemic species had all of the different distribution patterns. Parsimony analysis of endemism indicated two main centers of endemism for the family: one in the Minas Gerais sector, on the Diamantina Plateau, and another in the Bahia sector, in the Chapada Diamantina. The floristic similarity, richness, and diversity analyses evidenced a principal group in each portion, mainly concentrated in the Chapada Diamantina, and secondarily in the Iron Quadrangle. Such studies are important both for understanding biodiversity and for decision-making in public conservation policies.

Endemism Patterns of Planthoppers (Fulgoroidea) in China

Studies on endemism are always of high interest in biogeography and contribute to better understanding of the evolution of species and making conservation plans. The present study aimed to investigate the endemism patterns of planthoppers in China by delimiting centers of endemism and areas of endemism. We collected 6,907 spatial distribution records for 860 endemic planthopper species from various resources. Centers of endemism were identified using weighted endemism values at 1° grid size. Parsimony analysis of endemicity and endemicity analysis were employed to detect areas of endemism at 1°, 1.5°, and 2° grid sizes. Six centers of endemism located in mountainous areas were identified: Taiwan Island, Hainan Island, eastern Yungui Plateau, Wuyi Mountains, western Qinling Mountains, and western Yunnan. We also delimited six areas of endemism, which were generally consistent with centers of endemism. Our findings demonstrated that mountainous areas have an essential role in facilitating the high level of endemism and formation of areas of endemism in planthoppers through the combined effects of complex topography, a long-term stable environment, and geological events. Dispersal ability and distribution of host plants also have important effects on the patterns of planthoppers’ endemism.

Areas of endemism of two biogeographic provinces in central Mexico based on their endemic Asteraceae: a conservation proposal

The Transmexican Volcanic Belt (TVB) and the Balsas Basin (BB), situated in central Mexico, stand out for their species richness and endemism. Documenting patterns of distribution of endemism is relevant, since species restricted to an area may become sensitive to the modification of their environment. The aim of this study was to identify areas of endemism within the TVB and the BB based on a set of species of Asteraceae endemic to these provinces. A Parsimony Analysis of Endemicity (PAE) and an Endemicity Analysis (EA) were carried out from a database with 901 records, using 30’ latitude and longitude grid-cells, and hydrological sub-basins as units. Based on 148 endemic species, between 1 and 8 areas of endemism were identified in both biogeographic provinces. In particular, the TVB concentrates 79 endemic Asteraceae, which represent 53.3% of the total analyzed species. The areas of endemism identified are irreplaceable zones and stand out as important sites for the conservation of local endemism, which is an extremely important criterion for the definition of priority areas for conservation.

Land snail biogeography and endemism in south-eastern Africa: Implications for the Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany biodiversity hotspot.

Invertebrates in general have long been underrepresented in studies on biodiversity, biogeography and conservation. Boundaries of biodiversity hotspots are often delimited intuitively based on floristic endemism and have seldom been empirically tested using actual species distributions, and especially invertebrates. Here we analyse the zoogeography of terrestrial malacofauna from south-eastern Africa (SEA), proposing the first mollusc-based numerical regionalisation for the area. We also discuss patterns and centres of land snail endemism, thence assessing the importance and the delimitation of the Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany (MPA) biodiversity hotspot for their conservation. An incidence matrix compiled for relatively well-collected lineages of land snails and slugs (73 taxa in twelve genera) in 40 a priori operational geographic units was subjected to (a) phenetic agglomerative hierarchical clustering using unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic means (UPGMA), (b) parsimony analysis of endemicity (PAE) and biotic element analysis (BEA). Fulfilling the primary objective of our study, the UPGMA dendrogram provided a hierarchical regionalisation and identified five centres of molluscan endemism for SEA, while the PAE confirmed six areas of endemism, also supported by the BEA. The regionalisation recovers a zoogeographic province similar to the MPA hotspot, but with a conspicuous westward extension into Knysna (towards the Cape). The MPA province, centres and areas of endemism, biotic elements as well as the spatial patterns of species richness and endemism, support the MPA hotspot, but suggest further extensions resulting in a greater MPA region of land snail endemism (also with a northward extension into sky islands—Soutpansberg and Wolkberg), similar to that noted for vertebrates. The greater MPA region provides a more robustly defined region of conservation concern, with centres of endemism serving as local conservation priorities.

Biogeography and Conservation of Gesneriaceae in the Serra da Mantiqueira, Southeastern Region of Brazil

The present work aimed to study the distribution and richness of Gesneriaceae in the Serra da Mantiqueira (SM), located in Southeastern Region of Brazil, as well as to evaluate the conservation degree of endemic species and possible areas of endemism of this Serra. The analyzed data were obtained from the literature, as well as from eight herbariums with representative collections of the SM, from field expeditions and an online database, and then marked on a map which was divided into 0.5° × 0.5° grid squares. Richness grid similarity analyzes were performed for the 55 species found, while a parsimony analysis of endemism and the conservation status evaluation were only performed with the 15 endemic species of Gesneriaceae registered for the SM. The highest richness was found for Northern Mantiqueira and the similarity between the squares confirmed the two SM sectors and the existence of a relationship between the interior of the ES and the Zona da Mata of MG. The 15 endemic species of the SM should be considered threatened to some degree due to restricted distribution, reduced populations and/or anthropogenic impact in their occurrence habitats. Given this richness, there is an imminent need for conservation policies which truly guarantee effective protection of the SM, as it represents a relevant refuge for species in general.

Patrones biogeográficos de la riqueza de especies y el endemismo de la avifauna en el oeste de México

Se analizaron los patrones de riqueza y endemismo de la avifauna en el oeste de México, desde el norte de Sonora hasta el sureste de Chiapas. La región fue dividida en 24 transectos para ser usados como unidades de estudio, y los análisis desarrollados con base en registros de distribución puntual obtenidos de colecciones científicas y bibliografía y con la ayuda de un sistema de información geográfica. Para el reconocimiento de los patrones biogeográficos generales y la regionalización de la zona se utilizaron análisis de parsimonia de endemismos (PAE) y de tasas de recambio de especies, teniendo en cuenta una propuesta taxonómica alternativa para la avifauna mexicana. Se registró un total de 783 especies de aves terrestres, de las cuales 157 poseen alguna categoría de endemismo. Los datos sugieren que existe una tendencia al aumento de la riqueza de especies hacia el sur, mientras que la riqueza de endemismos es mayor hacia el centro del área de estudio y menor hacia los extremos norte y sur. Los análisis de atenuación y de PAE revelaron la existencia de tres grupos principales de áreas: uno ubicado en la sección sur, que comprende desde el este de Oaxaca hasta el sur de Chiapas; otro en la porción norte, abarcando desde el norte de Sonora hasta el norte de Nayarit y Jalisco; y un último para la porción central, desde el sur de Jalisco y el noroeste de Colima hasta el este de Oaxaca, así como la existencia de varios subgrupos al interior de estos.

Spatial Distribution of Pollinating Butterflies in Yunnan Province, Southwest China with Resource Conservation Implications.

Simple SummaryPollinators are important to the sustainability of human society, but butterflies are among the less studied pollinators. Yunnan Province in Southwest China is a region with high diversity of butterflies, but the pollinating species remain poorly understood. Understanding the species assemblage and spatial distribution pattern is the first step in forming a better resource utilisation and conservation. Using literature and museum records, our study identified 554 species of pollinating butterflies in Yunnan. Families Papilionidae, Pieridae, Lycaenidae, and Hesperiidae are pollinator rich, while family Nymphalidae contains a relatively low ratio of pollinators. The zoning analysis revealed high species richness in tropical regions in South Yunnan as well as the topologically complex regions in Northwest Yunnan. Utilisation and conservation of pollinating butterflies in Yunnan should be emphasized with butterfly-friendly agriculture based on local traditions. Keeping butterfly attracting plants and unmanaged hedges with a diverse range of native grasses is also encouraged to achieve this goal.Pollinating butterflies are an important asset to agriculture, which still depends on wild resources. Yunnan Province in Southwest China is a region with typical montane agriculture, but this resource is poorly investigated. From literature reference and specimen examination, the present study identified 554 species of pollinating butterflies (50.8% of the total butterflies) from Yunnan, with family Nymphalidae possessing the least number of pollinators (80 species, 16.0%), while the remaining four families are pollinator-rich (>73%). Tropical lowlands and mountain-valley areas possess higher species richness than those with plain terrains. The species richness of pollinating butterflies in Yunnan does not simply decline with the increase of latitude, nor is significantly different between West and East Yunnan. Zonation of pollinating butterflies using the parsimony analysis of endemicity (PAE) identified nine distribution zones and ten subzones. Most areas of endemism (AOE) are found in lowlands or mountain-valley areas, complexity of terrains, climates, and vegetation types are believed to be the main causes of such endemicity. The potential pollinating service of these butterflies could be great to montane agriculture with expanding areas of cash crops and fruit horticulture. Conservation strategies for pollinating butterflies may consist of preserving habitats and establishing butterfly-friendly agriculture based on local traditions.

Biogeographic characterisation of the Austral High Andean district, Patagonian province, based on vascular plant taxa

The Austral High Andean area extends from south-eastern Mendoza, Argentina, to the southernmost tip of South America in the form of isles on the peaks of the Andes range. The objective of this biogeographic regionalisation study was to characterise this area. Individual tracks were made on the basis of the distribution maps of 232 species of vascular plants present in the area, from which localities were identified and georeferenced. A parsimony analysis of endemicity (PAE) was used to obtain a generalised track. The results support an area of endemism located mainly in the Neuquén province, which is treated as a district of the Patagonian province that belongs to the Patagonian subregion of the Andean region. This track analysis is a preliminary contribution for understanding the distributional patterns of the High Andean biota within an evolutionary biogeographic framework.

Flora and Vegetation Associated with <i>Dichromanthus cinnabarinus</i> (La Llave & Lex.) Garay (Orchidaceae, Spiranthinae) in Northeastern Mexico

Studies conducted in northeastern Mexico have not provided information on the flora and vegetation associated with Dichromanthus cinnabarinus. Therefore, it is necessary to study the areas where this orchid is distributed to understand the plant vegetation interaction. Research questions: What plant species are associated with Dichromanthus cinnabarinus? What is the degree of similarity among the plant communities with which Dichromanthus cinnabarinus is associated? Study site: Northeastern Mexico, comprehending the states of Coahuila, Nuevo Leon and Tamaulipas. Methods: The study sites were selected consider-ing the presence of Dichromanthus cinnabarinus. Regarding the study of the plant struc-ture, the tree, shrub, and herbaceous strata were obtained by the methodology of quad-rants. Data were collected in April and August 2017. The results were analyzed using the Importance Value Index (IVI) for each stratum present and a Parsimony Analysis of En-demicity (PAE) for the plant communities. Results: In the study area, a total of 33 families, 60 genera and 69 species were registered. The representative families are Asteraceae with eight species, Asparagaceae with six, Fabaceae with five, followed by Cactaceae, Poaceae and Roasaceae with four species each. Regarding endemic species, a total of 11 species distributed in nine genera were registered in the study sites. Conclusions: In northeastern Mexico, Dichromanthus cinnabarinus is found associated with Aristida adscensionis L., Agave lechuguilla Torr. Bouteloua sp., Euphorbia antisyphilitica Zucc., Agave striata var. striata (Salm-Dyck) and Rhus virens Lindh. ex A. Gray. Moreover, Dichromanthus cin-nabarinus is observed in some sites with contrasting flora, according to the resulting list of endemic species. It is important to establish priority areas for wildlife conservation in northeastern Mexico.

Track analysis of the Neotropical species of Capparaceae

The Capparaceae are a family of plants associated mainly with dry areas, which have produced climatic constraints and a limited geographic distribution. This family is considered endemic in the Neotropical seasonally dry forest (NSDF) and, therefore, a model to analyse the NSDF biogeography. We conducted a track analysis of Neotropical species of Capparaceae to identify generalised tracks that recover ancestral biotas of NSDF nuclei, employing 7602 data points for 104 species. Individual tracks were obtained using Prim’s algorithm and generalised tracks were identified using parsimony analysis of endemicity with progressive character elimination. We found six generalised tracks and four panbiogeographic nodes mainly located in the NSDF. Generalised tracks recovered the ancestral biotas of NSDF distributed among the central Andean coast, central inter-Andean valleys (Ecuador), Tarapoto–Quillabamba, Apurimac–Mantaro (Peru) and Piedmont (Bolivia) NSDF nuclei. Also, the pattern of distribution of Capparaceae recovered old connections between northern South America and the inter-Andean valleys. However, we also found generalised tracks located over the Isthmus of Panama and Amazonian–Magdalena valley moist forest, suggesting that the distribution pattern in this family was influenced not only by NSDF climatic constraints, but also by geological events such as the emergence of the Isthmus and Andean uplift.