Is molecular evolution faster in the tropics?

Orton, Matthew G.; May, Jacqueline A.; Ly, Winfield; Lee, Dong Hoon; Adamowicz, Sarah J.

doi:10.1038/s41437-018-0141-7

Cited by 24 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 57 publications

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“…In an effort to compare relative rates in tropical versus Arctic taxa, Orton et al (2018) employed a consistent gene region and a standard analytical approach to analyze more than 8000 phylogenetic pairs of latitudinally separated BINs spanning six animal phyla. Overall, there was only a weak trend towards higher rates at low latitudes, but the strongest latitudinal pattern was found in echinoderms (Orton et al 2018), mirroring the results reported here for absolute date estimates. Although the geographic scope of the calibrations presented here requires further investigation, a correction for latitude may be necessary for echinoderms.…”

Section: Rates In Northern Versus Tropical Marine Invertebratessupporting

confidence: 86%

Recalibrating the molecular clock for Arctic marine invertebrates based on DNA barcodes

Loeza-Quintana

Carr

Khan

et al. 2019

Genome

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Divergence times for species assemblages of Arctic marine invertebrates have often been estimated using a standard rate (1.4%/MY) of molecular evolution calibrated using a single sister pair of tropical crustaceans. Because rates of molecular evolution vary among taxa and environments, it is essential to obtain clock calibrations from northern lineages. The recurrent opening and closure of the Bering Strait provide an exceptional opportunity for clock calibration. Here, we apply the iterative calibration approach to investigate patterns of molecular divergence among lineages of northern marine molluscs and arthropods using publicly available sequences of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene and compare these results with previous estimates of trans-Bering divergences for echinoderms and polychaetes. The wide range of Kimura two-parameter (K2P) divergences among 73 trans-Bering sister pairs (0.12%–16.89%) supports multiple pulses of migration through the Strait. Overall, the results indicate a rate of K2P divergence of 3.2%/MY in molluscs, 5%–5.2%/MY in arthropods, and 3.5%–4.7%/MY in polychaetes. While these rates are considerably higher than the often-adopted 1.4%/MY rate, they are similar to calibrations (3%–5%/MY) in several other studies of marine invertebrates. This upward revision in rates means there is a need both to reevaluate the evolutionary history of marine lineages and to reexamine the impact of prior climatic changes upon the diversification of marine life.

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Section: Rates In Northern Versus Tropical Marine Invertebratessupporting

confidence: 86%

Recalibrating the molecular clock for Arctic marine invertebrates based on DNA barcodes

Loeza-Quintana

Carr

Khan

et al. 2019

Genome

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“…Our study adds to a growing body of evidence documenting that recent evolutionary rates are often faster in the temperate zone than in the tropics. While early empirical tests reported faster molecular evolution in the tropics (e.g., Gillooly et al 2005;Wright et al 2006), a recent comprehensive analysis of ~8,000 taxon pairs from six phyla of animals found that latitudinal differences in the rate of molecular evolution are indeed faster in the tropics, but only just (faster in the tropics in 51.6% of comparisons vs. faster in the temperate zone in 48.4% of comparisons) (Orton et al 2019). In contrast, trait evolution and recent speciation rates are faster in the temperate zone than the tropics in all published studies to date.…”

Section: Evolutionary Rates Are Typically Fastest In the Temperate Zonementioning

confidence: 99%

The latitudinal gradient in rates of evolution for bird beaks, a species interaction trait

Freeman

Schluter

Tobias

2020

Preprint

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Where is evolution fastest? The biotic interactions hypothesis proposes that greater species richness creates more ecological opportunity, driving faster evolution at low latitudes, whereas the “empty niches” hypothesis proposes that ecological opportunity is greater where diversity is low, spurring faster evolution at high latitudes. Here we test these contrasting predictions by analyzing rates of bird beak evolution for a global dataset of 1141 sister pairs of birds. We find that beak size evolves at similar rates across latitudes, while beak shape evolves faster in the temperate zone, consistent with the empty niches hypothesis. By comparing rates of evolution in sympatric versus allopatric sister lineages, we also find evidence that character displacement is similar between latitudes. Our analyses focusing on recent speciation events finds that drivers of evolutionary diversification are more potent at higher latitudes, thus calling into question multiple hypotheses invoking faster tropical evolution to explain the latitudinal diversity gradient.

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“…The premise is simply that the tropics are older, warmer and have had historically higher diversification rates along with lower extinction rates than temperate latitudes (Mittelbach et al, ; Pianka, ; Schluter, ; Schluter & Pennell, ; Weir & Schluter, ). Proposed explanations for higher diversification rates in the tropics include: enhanced tropical genetic drift (Fedorov, ; Mittelbach et al, ); stronger high latitude climate change cycles (Dynesius & Jansson, ; Mittelbach et al, ); greater geographic extent allowing for diversification across space (Mittelbach et al, ; Terborgh, ); narrow physiological tolerances in the tropics (Ghalambor, ; Janzen, ; Mittelbach et al, ; Stevens, ); temperature effects on evolutionary speed (Mittelbach et al, ; Orton, May, Ly, Lee, & Adamowicz, ; Rohde, ); a stronger influence of biotic over abiotic interactions in the tropics; and greater ecological opportunities (Schluter, ). Many of these explanations are outlined in Table and overlap with discussions under the other two frameworks.…”

Section: Review: Understanding the Latitudinal Gradient Of Biodiversimentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Many of these explanations are outlined in Table and overlap with discussions under the other two frameworks. The extent of support for these proposed explanations is variable, but whichever factor(s) caused increased tropical speciation rates in the past appear to be shifting in current times (Orton et al, ; Schluter, ; Schluter & Pennell, ; Weir & Schluter, ). This shift has consequences for current patterns of biodiversity; as speciation slows at low latitudes and increases at high latitudes the latitudinal gradient in species richness may dissolve as temperate regions ‘catch up’ in species richness.…”

Section: Review: Understanding the Latitudinal Gradient Of Biodiversimentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Many of these explanations are outlined in Table 1 and overlap with discussions under the other two frameworks. The extent of support for these proposed explanations is variable, but whichever factor(s) caused increased tropical speciation rates in the past appear to be shifting in current times (Orton et al, 2019;Schluter, 2016;Schluter & Pennell, 2017;Weir & Schluter, 2007).…”

Section: Evolutionary Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Latitudinal biodiversity gradients at three levels: Linking species richness, population richness and genetic diversity

Lawrence

Fraser

2020

Global Ecol Biogeogr

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Motivation Theory describing biodiversity gradients has focused on species richness with less conceptual synthesis outlining expectations for intraspecific diversity gradients, that is, broad‐scale population richness and genetic diversity. Consequently, there is a need for a diversity–gradient synthesis that complements species richness with population richness and genetic diversity. Review methods Species and population richness are the number of different species or populations in an area, respectively. Population richness can be totalled across species, within a species or averaged across species. Genetic diversity within populations can be summed or averaged across all species in an area or be averaged across an individual species. Using these definitions, we apply historical, ecological and evolutionary frameworks of species richness gradients to formulate predictions for intraspecific diversity gradients. Review conclusions All frameworks suggest higher average population richness at high latitudes, but similar total population richness across latitudes. Predictions for genetic diversity patterns across species are not consistent across frameworks and latitudes. New analysis methods Species range size tends to increase with latitude, so we used empirical data from c. 900 vertebrate species to test hypotheses relating species range size and richness to population richness and genetic diversity. New analysis conclusions Species range size was positively associated with its population richness but not with species‐specific genetic diversity. Furthermore, a positive linear relationship was supported between species richness and total population richness, but only weakly for average population richness. Overall conclusion Through the lens of species richness theories, our synthesis identifies an uncoupling between species richness, population richness and genetic diversity in many instances due to historical and contemporary factors. Range size and taxonomic differences appear to play a large role in moderating intraspecific diversity gradients. We encourage further analyses to jointly assess diversity–gradient theory at species, population and genetic levels towards better understanding Earth’s biodiversity distribution and refining biodiversity conservation.

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Is molecular evolution faster in the tropics?

Cited by 24 publications

References 57 publications

Recalibrating the molecular clock for Arctic marine invertebrates based on DNA barcodes

Recalibrating the molecular clock for Arctic marine invertebrates based on DNA barcodes

The latitudinal gradient in rates of evolution for bird beaks, a species interaction trait

Latitudinal biodiversity gradients at three levels: Linking species richness, population richness and genetic diversity

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