Ecological niche modeling and a lack of phylogeographic structure in Vriesea incurvata suggest historically stable areas in the southern Atlantic Forest

Abstract

Premise Despite the efforts to understand the processes that shape neotropical biodiversity, the complexity of certain biomes, such as the Atlantic Forest (AF), prevents the generalization of patterns. Initially, ecological niche modeling (ENM), with phylogeographic studies, identified past stable areas in the central and northern portions of the AF, while the southern portion was thought to be highly fragmented. Here, we examined the phylogeography, historical patterns, genetic diversity, and population structure of Vriesea incurvata, an endemic species of the southern portion of the AF. Methods We evaluated 149 individuals using two plastid DNA regions (cpDNA) and 13 nuclear microsatellite markers (nuSSRs) to access the historical patterns, genetic diversity, and structure of V. incurvata populations. We also conducted historical demography and ENM analyses. Results We found moderate to high genetic diversity and low population structure for both genomes. The cpDNA network revealed high haplotype sharing. The ENM suggested no drastic changes in suitable areas for V. incurvata occurrence, corroborating the finding of no phylogeographic structure. Conclusions Contrary to some studies, our results indicate that the southern AF was a historically stable climate region for V. incurvata occupation after southward colonization by the species. Past climatic changes probably did not cause structuring among its populations.

EFFECT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF CURITIBA PRISMATICA (D. LEGRAND) SALYWON & LANDRUM: AN ENDEMIC ARAUCARIA FOREST SPECIES

“…The results obtained were like those observed for several other plant species from the Atlantic Forest, such as Vriesea incurvata (AGUIAR-MELO et al, 2019), Myrsine spp. (SÁNCHEZ-TAPIA et al, 2018) and Eremanthus erythropappus (CARVALHO et al, 2019).…”

From micro- to macroevolution: insights from a Neotropical bromeliad with high population genetic structure adapted to rock outcrops

“…Despite the strong genetic structure and low levels of gene flow observed in P. flammea populations, a weak phylogeographic structure was evident in our results for both nDNA and cpDNA datasets. The BAF is a mosaic of different dynamics and patterns of diversification, where past climatic oscillations and geographic barriers probably influenced each organism in a different way (Cabanne et al 2007;Carnaval and Moritz 2008;Colombi et al 2010;Thomé et al 2010;Ribeiro et al 2011;Martins, de 2011;Menezes et al 2016;Aguiar-Melo et al 2019;Paz et al 2019). The heterogeneous nature of the southern and northern regions of the BAF is a well-observed fact for both animals and plant groups (Costa 2003;Grazziotin et al 2006;Cabanne et al 2007;Tchaicka et al 2007;Carnaval and Moritz 2008;Palma-Silva et al 2009;Pinheiro and Cozzolino 2013;Paz et al 2019).…”

“…Questions of attention are how this region became so diverse, and whether its biota show similar patterns of speciation. Several phylogeographic studies attempted to reveal the complex evolutionary history of the BAF biota, considering different groups of continuous and connected forest-dwelling organisms as models to comprehend historical patterns of diversification (Cabanne et al 2007;Carnaval and Moritz 2008;Palma-Silva et al 2009;Colombi et al 2010;Martins, de 2011;Leite et al 2016;Menezes et al 2016;Leal et al 2016;Franco et al 2017;Paz et al 2019;Aguiar-Melo et al 2019;Rivera et al 2020). Nevertheless, phylogeographic patterns of naturally fragmented species from BAF rock outcrops remain largely unclear (but see Palma-Silva et al 2011;Hmeljevski et al 2017;de Paula et al 2017).…”

Drivers of bromeliad leaf and floral bract variation across a latitudinal gradient in the Atlantic Forest

“…where three varieties of V. taritubensis are distributed. Niche models for V. incurvata showed climatic stability of the southern portion of the Atlantic Forest during Last Glacial Maximum (Aguiar-Melo et al, 2019). Lineages in the V. incurvata complex have likely survived in stable areas during the more recent climatic oscillations of Quaternary and from there colonized its current range.…”