Convergent evolution in lemur environmental niches

Abstract

Aim To test the hypothesis that adaptive convergent evolution of climate niches occurred in multiple independent lemur lineages. Location Madagascar. Taxon Lemurs. Methods I collected climate and altitude data from WorldClim and summarized the niches of almost all living lemurs (83 species) into phylogenetically controlled principal components. To test for convergent evolution, I searched for multiple, similar climate optima using multi‐peak Ornstein–Uhlenbeck models (surface, l1‐ou, bayou). I compared the observed level of climate convergence to that simulated under neutral and single‐optimum models. To test if behavioural or morphological traits were related to climate niches, I used phylogenetic regressions with activity pattern, diet, and body size. Results From an ancestral niche with high rainfall and low seasonality, four lemur lineages independently converged on climate niche optima characterized by high temperatures and low rainfall, supporting adaptive evolution in southwest deciduous and arid habitats. The observed level of convergence was more frequent than expected under Brownian motion and single‐optimum simulations, which illustrates that the results are likely not a result of stochastic evolution over long time periods. Nocturnal and cathemeral activity patterns were common among lineages in the arid climate niche. Conclusion Lemur climate niche evolution demonstrated that convergence explains the distribution of four independent clades in hot, arid environments of southwest Madagascar. The timing of these convergent shifts coincided with the origination of modern arid‐adapted plant genera, some of which are important lemur food sources. These communities have high endemicity and are especially threatened by habitat loss. Arid environments are arenas in which convergent evolution is predicted to occur frequently.

Understanding the relationship between climatic niches and dispersal through the lens of bat wing morphology

“…1; Supporting Information Table ). Species scores along both principal components represent their position in the climatic space, that is a measure related to their realized climatic niches (Varzinczak et al ., 2019; Herrera, 2020). There are ca.…”

“…In the Hutchinsonian niche, climate represents an important abiotic dimension determining where a species can occur, thereby influencing patterns of species diversity (Soberón, 2007; Rolland et al ., 2018). Species niche positions in the climatic space represent climatic tolerances in concert with adaptations, behaviors and life‐history traits that influence their distributions across spatial and temporal scales (Buckley, Hurlbert & Jetz, 2012; Rolland et al ., 2018; Varzinczak, Moura & Passos, 2019; Herrera, 2020). In this context, species climatic niches have gained attention, especially with accelerated rates of climate change threatening global biodiversity (Bellard et al ., 2012).…”

Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) in savanna landscapes

“…Several nonhuman primates flexibly respond or are adapted to the environmental conditions of savanna landscapes 37–40 . The biographical ranges of nearly all primate species (99%) include forest landscapes (Table S3).…”

“…Phylogenetic comparisons among sympatric and closely related species (Table S3) have the potential to identify homologous and analogous traits, and tease apart adaptation from closely related mechanisms, such as acclimation and behavioral flexibility. Savanna landscape effect patterns are reported in a variety of nonhuman primate populations in open and dry environments, where populations are known to flexibly (e.g., savanna baboons [ Papio cynocephalus ], 37 vervet monkeys [ Chlorocebus pygerythrus ], 40 white‐fronted capuchins 38 ) or adaptively (e.g., lemurs), 39 respond to resource scarcity. Although an intensive comparison of chimpanzees and bonobos ( Pan paniscus ) is beyond the scope of this review, it will be important to identify how and why bonobos seem to be more geographically limited by forest cover than their sister species.…”

Evolution of crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) as an escape from ecological niche conservatism in MalagasyBulbophyllum(Orchidaceae)

“…The retention of niche‐related ancestral ecological traits over time has been termed niche conservatism (Wiens et al ., 2010), whereas evolutionary change that allows lineages to transverse niche boundaries is known as niche shift (Donoghue & Edwards, 2014). Niche conservatism has long been viewed as the dominant process in ecology across many angiosperm lineages (Crisp et al ., 2009; Donoghue & Edwards, 2014), but there is growing evidence that niche shifts are more common than previously thought (Holstein & Renner, 2011; Evans et al ., 2014; Gamisch et al ., 2016; Cardillo et al ., 2017; Dale et al ., 2020; Herrera, 2020). However, still little is known about the key structural and physiological traits underlying such niche shifts, and their consequences for species diversification at broad phylogenetic and spatial scales (reviewed in Soltis et al ., 2019).…”