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Heckman, Kellie L.; Rasoazanabary, Emilienne; Machlin, Erica; Godfrey, Laurie R.; Yoder, Anne D.

doi:10.1186/1471-2148-6-98

Cited by 23 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…Although some studies suggest that M. murinus preferentially inhabits dry forest habitat in northwestern Madagascar [79], it could be argued that M. murinus is a generalist species as it is often found in both dry deciduous forest and wet, gallery forest habitats in the southeast [38,39]. These habitat associations contrast with M. griseorufus , which is more common in xeric, spiny forest [21,39], though recently M. griseorufus has been shown to inhabit both spiny and gallery forests at the Beza Mahafaly Private Reserve [45]. Therefore, while these habitat preferences may have been important in the original subdivision of the ancestral species, there is no direct evidence supporting the hypothesis that this drove their initial divergence.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We also chose data sets with samples covering a large portion of the known geographic range of both species to assemble the most geographically complete data set possible (Figure 1 B; Additional file 1 : Table S1). Although recent studies have suggested that M. murinus may possibly contain at least three undocumented species, [ 43 - 45 ], we treat these populations as M. murinus sensu lato for the purpose of this study. The final data set consisted of the following nuclear loci: alpha enolase intron (ENOL: 916 bp), alpha fibrinogen intron (FIB: 608 bp), von Willebrand factor intron (VWF: 795 bp).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Multilocus coalescent analyses reveal the demographic history and speciation patterns of mouse lemur sister species

et al. 2014

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BackgroundDebate continues as to whether allopatric speciation or peripatric speciation through a founder effect is the predominant force driving evolution in vertebrates. The mouse lemurs of Madagascar are a system in which evolution has generated a large number of species over a relatively recent time frame. Here, we examine speciation patterns in a pair of sister species of mouse lemur, Microcebus murinus and M. griseorufus. These two species have ranges that are disparately proportioned in size, with M. murinus showing a much more extensive range that marginally overlaps that of M. griseorufus. Given that these two species are sister taxa, the asymmetric but overlapping geographic ranges are consistent with a model of peripatric speciation. To test this hypothesis, we analyze DNA sequence data from four molecular markers using coalescent methods. If the peripatric speciation model is supported, we predict substantially greater genetic diversity in M. murinus, relative to M. griseorufus. Further, we expect a larger effective population size in M. murinus and in the common ancestor of the two species than in M. griseorufus, with a concomitant decrease in gene tree/species tree incongruence in the latter and weak signs of demographic expansion in M. murinus.ResultsOur results reject a model of peripatric divergence. Coalescent effective population size estimates were similar for both extant species and larger than that estimated for their most recent common ancestor. Gene tree results show similar levels of incomplete lineage sorting within species with respect to the species tree, and locus-specific estimates of genetic diversity are concordant for both species. Multilocus demographic analyses suggest range expansions for M. murinus, with this species also experiencing more recent population declines over the past 160 thousand years.ConclusionsResults suggest that speciation occurred in allopatry from a common ancestor narrowly distributed throughout southwest Madagascar, with subsequent range expansion for M. murinus. Population decline in M. murinus is likely related to patterns of climate change in Madagascar throughout the Pleistocene, potentially exacerbated by continual anthropogenic perturbation. Genome-level data are needed to quantify the role of niche specialization and adaptation in shaping the current ranges of these species.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multilocus coalescent analyses reveal the demographic history and speciation patterns of mouse lemur sister species

et al. 2014

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“…This is in contrast to observations at other places. At Beza Mahafaly in southwestern Madagascar, Heckman et al [ 32 ] observed only griseorufus- like mitochondrial haplotypes despite morphological evidence for the presence of both species [ 21 , 56 ]. At Berenty, west of our study area, Yoder et al [ 31 ] observed mitochondrial haplotypes of Microcebus murinus in gallery forests and of M. griseorufus in adjacent spiny bush without admixture.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Microcebus griseorufus is a microendemic in the southern dry spiny bush [21,30-32]. Microcebus murinus has a very large distribution that comprises the western seasonally dry deciduous forest, southern gallery forest and southeastern humid littoral forest [21,30,33].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Gligor et al [ 30 ] detected a hybrid zone between two species of mouse lemurs, Microcebus griseorufus and M. murinus , within a dry-humid ecotone in southeastern Madagascar. Microcebus griseorufus is a microendemic in the southern dry spiny bush [ 21 , 30 - 32 ]. Microcebus murinus has a very large distribution that comprises the western seasonally dry deciduous forest, southern gallery forest and southeastern humid littoral forest [ 21 , 30 , 33 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Hybridization of mouse lemurs: different patterns under different ecological conditions

et al. 2011

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BackgroundSeveral mechanistic models aim to explain the diversification of the multitude of endemic species on Madagascar. The island's biogeographic history probably offered numerous opportunities for secondary contact and subsequent hybridization. Existing diversification models do not consider a possible role of these processes. One key question for a better understanding of their potential importance is how they are influenced by different environmental settings. Here, we characterized a contact zone between two species of mouse lemurs, Microcebus griseorufus and M. murinus, in dry spiny bush and mesic gallery forest that border each other sharply without intermediate habitats between them. We performed population genetic analyses based on mtDNA sequences and nine nuclear microsatellites and compared the results to a known hybrid zone of the same species in a nearby wide gradient from dry spiny bush over transitional forest to humid littoral forest.ResultsIn the spiny-gallery system, Microcebus griseorufus is restricted to the spiny bush; Microcebus murinus occurs in gallery forest and locally invades the dryer habitat of its congener. We found evidence for bidirectional introgressive hybridization, which is closely linked to increased spatial overlap within the spiny bush. Within 159 individuals, we observed 18 hybrids with mitochondrial haplotypes of both species. Analyses of simulated microsatellite data indicate that we identified hybrids with great accuracy and that we probably underestimated their true number. We discuss short-term climatic fluctuations as potential trigger for the dynamic of invasion and subsequent hybridization. In the gradient hybrid zone in turn, long-term aridification could have favored unidirectional nuclear introgression from Microcebus griseorufus into M. murinus in transitional forest.ConclusionsMadagascar's southeastern transitional zone harbors two very different hybrid zones of mouse lemurs in different environmental settings. This sheds light on the multitude of opportunities for the formation of hybrid zones and indicates an important influence of environmental factors on secondary contact and hybridization. Our findings suggest that hybridization could enhance the adaptability of mouse lemurs without necessarily leading to a loss of distinctiveness. They point to a potential role of hybridization in Madagascar's diversification history that requires further investigation.

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The befuddling nature of mouse lemur hands and feet at Bezà Mahafaly, SW Madagascar

Agostini

Rasoazanabary

Godfrey

2017

American J Primatol

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The reddish-gray mouse lemur (Microcebus griseorufus) possesses striking phenotypic and behavioral variation. This project investigates differences in autopod proportions in neighboring populations of M. griseorufus from the Special Reserve at Bezà Mahafaly in southwest Madagascar. One population resides in an environment generally preferred by M. griseorufus-a spiny forest with large-trunked trees, vertically-oriented supports, and more open ground, while the other resides in a gallery forest with abundant small, often horizontal peripheral branches in high canopy. We demonstrate significant interpopulation differences in autopod morphophology despite no evidence of divergence in mitochondrial cytochrome b. We test two hypotheses regarding ultimate causation. The first, based on the Fine Branch Arborealism Hypothesis (FBAH), holds that autopod differences are related to different locomotor practices in the two environments, and the second, based on the Narrow Niche Hypothesis (NNH), holds that the observed differences reflect a relaxation (from ancestral to descendant conditions) of selective pressure for terrestrial locomotion and/or use of large, vertical supports combined with positive selection for locomoting in peripheral branch settings. Our data conform well to FBAH expectations and show some support for the NNH. Individuals from the gallery forest possess disproportionally long posterior digits that facilitate locomotion on small, flexible canopy supports while individuals from the spiny forest possess shorter posterior digits and a longer pollex/hallux that increase functional grasping diameter for large vertical supports and facilitate efficient ground locomotion. Focal individual data confirm differences in how often individuals descend to the ground and use vertical supports. We further show that predispersal juveniles, like adults, possess autopod morphologies suited to their natal forest. We explore two proximate mechanisms that could generate these cheiridial differences. The first posits an in vivo plastic response to different locomotor behaviors, the second posits differences that manifest in early development.

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Cited by 23 publications

References 35 publications

Multilocus coalescent analyses reveal the demographic history and speciation patterns of mouse lemur sister species

Multilocus coalescent analyses reveal the demographic history and speciation patterns of mouse lemur sister species

Hybridization of mouse lemurs: different patterns under different ecological conditions

The befuddling nature of mouse lemur hands and feet at Bezà Mahafaly, SW Madagascar

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