Elucidating geological and biological processes underlying the diversification of Sulawesi tarsiers

Abstract

Because of their exceptionally long independent evolution, a range diminution of their Eocene relatives, and a remarkable subsequent diversification in Southeast Asia, tarsiers are of particular importance to evolutionary primatologists. Little is known, however, on the processes shaping the radiation of these small enigmatic primates-especially on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, their center of endemism. Geological reconstructions and progress in applying DNA sequence information to divergence dating now provide us with the tools and background to comprehend tarsier dispersal. Here, we describe effects of plate-tectonic movements, Pleistocene sea level changes, and hybridization on the divergence of central Sulawesi tarsiers. We analyzed 12 microsatellites, the cytochrome b gene, the hypervariable region I of the mitochondrial control region, and the sex-determining region on the Y-chromosome from 144 specimens captured along a transect crossing a species boundary and a contact zone between 2 microplates. Based on these differentially inherited genetic markers, geographic information, and recordings of vocalizations, we demonstrate that the species boundary coincides with a tectonic suture. We estimate the most recent common ancestor of the 2 taxa to have lived 1.4 Mya, we describe asymmetrical introgressive hybridization, and we give evidence of unbiased dispersal in one species and malebiased dispersal in another species. This study exemplifies that the distribution of tarsier acoustic forms on Sulawesi is consistent with the allocation of genetic variability and that plate-tectonic and glacial events have left traceable marks in the biogeography of this island's unique fauna.hybridization ͉ phylogeography ͉ plate tectonics ͉ primate ͉ SRY

Convergent evolution of aquatic foraging in a new genus and species (Rodentia: Muridae) from Sulawesi Island, Indonesia

“…Latimojong (Musser et al 2010). Studies of tarsiers suggest that the west-central region may represent an area of endemism distinct from the east-central region (Merker et al 2009). However, few systematic surveys of small mammals have been conducted in the highlands of the region and the geographic limits of species are unknown.…”

Distributional Limits and Melanism in the South-West of the Range of the Crowned Sifaka (Propithecus coronatus), Madagascar

“…In some primates, acoustic differences in vocalizations have been shown to be in concordance with genetic differences (Merker et al 2009;Thin et al 2010;Markolf et al 2013). Since Decken's and crowned sifakas do not exhibit large differences in mitochondrial DNA (Pastorini et al 2001(Pastorini et al , 2003Rumpler et al 2011), a genetic basis underlying structural differences in Tchi-faks is rather unlikely.…”

“…They travel over long distances and have been suggested to transmit information pertaining to inter-group spacing and territorial behavior (Marler 1967;Waser 1982;Mitani 1985;Brown et al 1995). They typically have a species-specific acoustic structure and have therefore been used to infer phylogenetic relationships (Oates and Trocco 1983;Macedonia and Stanger 1994;Nietsch and Kopp 1998;Zimmermann et al 2000;Konrad and Geissmann 2006;Mendez-Cardenas et al 2008;Merker et al 2009;Thin et al 2010).…”

Adaptive Radiation and Ecological Opportunity in Sulawesi and Philippine Fanged Frog (Limnonectes) Communities

“…I bear striking similarities to those of the flying lizard species Draco spilonotus and Draco beccarii, respectively (McGuire et al 2007). Ranges and population structures of other taxa, such as tarsiers (Merker et al 2009;Shekelle et al 2010), bats (Campbell et al 2007), and tree frogs , also share aspects of these patterns (Evans 2011). However, in sharp contrast to these other groups, Sulawesi fanged frogs also include multiple species living in sympatry, an observation that suggests that habitat fragmentation was not the only factor that drove their diversification.…”