Genealogy and palaeodrainage basins in Yunnan Province: phylogeography of the Yunnan spiny frog, Nanorana yunnanensis (Dicroglossidae)

Abstract

Historical drainage patterns adjacent to the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau differed markedly from those of today. We examined the relationship between drainage history and geographic patterns of genetic variation in the Yunnan spiny frog, Nanorana yunnanensis, using approximately 981 base pairs of mitochondrial DNA partial sequences from protein-coding genes ND1 and ND2, and intervening areas including complete tRNA(Ile), tRNA(Gln) and tRNA(Met). Two null hypotheses were tested: (i) that genetic patterns do not correspond to the development of drainage systems and (ii) that populations had been stable and not experienced population expansion, bottlenecking and selection. Genealogical analyses identified three, major, well-supported maternal lineages, each of which had two sublineages. These divergent lineages were completely concordant with six geographical regions. Genetic structure and divergence were strongly congruent with historical rather than contemporary drainage patterns. Most lineages and sublineages were formed via population fragmentation during the rearrangement of paleodrainage basins in the Early Pliocene and Early Pleistocene. Sympatric lineages occurred only in localities at the boundaries of major drainages, likely reflecting secondary contact of previously allopatric populations. Extensive population expansion probably occurred early in the Middle Pleistocene accompanying dramatic climatic oscillations.

Phylogeography of Quercus glauca (Fagaceae), a dominant tree of East Asian subtropical evergreen forests, based on three chloroplast DNA interspace sequences

“…The high mountains (e.g., Hengduan, Wumeng, Cang and Ailao, Gaoligong Mountains, etc. ), the gorges, and complex paleodrainage basins have served as effective barriers to dispersal and promoted genetic diversification of organisms, which has been reported in multiple phylogeographic studies (He and Jiang 2014;Yue et al 2012;Zhang et al 2010). Furthermore, the suitable habitats in these regions for Q. glauca are limited and scattered because of the extreme climatic variation across short distances.…”

Integrative taxonomy helps to reveal the mask of the genusGynandropaa(Amphibia: Anura: Dicroglossidae)

“…We did not collect G. feae during the field work in west Yunnan, China. Feirana quadranus (Liu, Hu and Yang, 1960), F. taihangnica Chen and Jiang, 2002 and Nanorana pleskei Günther, 1896 were selected as outgroup taxa as they were suggested to be close to Gynandropaa Che et al 2009Che et al , 2010Huang 2009;Zhang et al 2010;Wang 2011).…”

“…In this study, 3 mitochondrial DNA fragments, including 12S rRNA, 16S rRNA partial sequences and NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 (ND2) sequences, were targeted for amplification and sequencing. These genes fragments were frequently used for other vertebrate phylogeographies (Cowman & Bellwood 2011;Stelbrink et al 2014;Wiens et al 2013) as well as for the subfamily Painae (Wang et al , 2012(Wang et al , 2013Zhang et al 2010;Yang et al 2011).…”

“…Hu 2004;Jiang et al 2005;Wang et al 2009;Che et al 2010), but the identities of species within Gynandropaa are not sufficiently understood. Zhang et al (2010) consider all the samples in this genus as one species Nanorana yunnanensis (= G. yunnanensis), although their genealogy implies that 3-5 species occur in the complex.…”

Genetic consequences of postglacial colonization by the endemic Yarkand hare (Lepus yarkandensis) of the arid Tarim Basin

“…For example, genealogical evaluations of largely aquatic frogs are associated with changes in river courses [21]. The phylogenetic history of Southeast Asian frogs in the tribe Paini was greatly affected by the Cenozoic Indo-Asian collision that resulted in the uplift of the QTP [22].…”