Molecular phylogeographic analyses and species delimitations reveal that Leopoldamys edwardsi (Rodentia: Muridae) is a species complex

Abstract

Leopoldamys edwardsi is a species with wide distribution ranges in southern China but is not discussed in studies on geographic variation and species differentiation. We used 2 mitochondrial (Cytb, CO1) and 3 nuclear (GHR, IRBP and RAG1) genes to clarify species phylogeography and geographical differentiation. Maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian phylogenetic inference (BI) trees consistently indicated that L. edwardsi is a species complex containing 3 main lineages with high Kimura‐2‐parameter (K2P) divergences (i.e. lineages LN, LS and LHN) found in the northern and southern China and Hainan Island, respectively. The 3 species delimitation methods, automated barcoding gap discovery, Bayesian poisson tree process analysis and Bayesian phylogenetics and phylogeography, consistently supported the existence of cryptic species. Divergence times among the main lineages were inferred to be during the Pleistocene, with LHN/LS split at 1.33 Ma and LN/(LHN+LS) at 2.61 Ma; the diversifications of L. edwardsi complex might be caused by the rapid uplifts of Tibetan Plateau, paleoclimate change and complex topography. The divergence between LHN and LS was probably related to the separation of Hainan Island from the mainland via the formation of the Qiongzhou Strait. Lineages LN and (LS+LHN) likely diverged due to the Wuyi‐Nanling mountain range forming a dispersal barrier. Our results suggested that L. edwardsi complex contains at least 3 distinct species: LHN represents L. hainanensis, endemic to Hainan Island and previously considered as a subspecies L. e. hainanensis; LS represents a cryptic species distributed throughout the southern Chinese continent; and LN represents the nominotypical species L. edwardsi.

Population dynamics linked to glacial cycles in Cercis chuniana F.P. Metcalf (Fabaceae) endemic to the montane regions of southern China

“…Therefore, the geographical barriers formed by the associated mountain ranges including the Wuyi, Luoxiao, and Nanling Mts. have directly limited long-distance colonization and are considered a major factor contributing to the historical isolation of C. chuniana populations (Jiang, Xu, & Deng, 2019;Li et al , 2019;Yang et al , 2019). Similar patterns have been found in many other plant species with a wide distribution range in subtropical China, such as Machilus pauhoi (Zhu et al , 2017), Loropetalum chinense (Gong et al , 2016) and Liriodendron chinense (Shen, Cheng, Li, & Li, 2019), all of which were analyzed with traditional molecular markers and data analysis.…”

“…Climatic oscillations associated with glacial cycles during the Pleistocene are also considered as an important factor driving the distribution pattern of biodiversity and shaping the demographic history of populations, particularly in montane regions (Hewitt, 2004;Li et al, 2019;Mesquita, Tillmann, Bernad, Rosemond, & Suding, 2018;Svenningm, Normand, & Skov, 2009). Although still under debate, considerable data are now available to support four glacial periods in eastern China (east to 105ºE) during the Pleistocene, i.e.…”

Population dynamics linked to glacial cycles in Cercis chuniana F. P. Metcalf (Fabaceae) endemic to the montane regions of subtropical China

“…Climatic oscillations associated with glacial cycles during the Pleistocene are also considered an important factor driving the distribution pattern of biodiversity and shaping the demographic history of populations, particularly in montane regions (Bueno de Mesquita et al, 2018 ; Hewitt, 2004 ; Li, Kong, et al, 2019 ; Li, Zhang, et al, 2019 ; Svenning et al, 2009 ). Although still under debate, considerable data are now available to support four glacial periods in eastern China (east to 105ºE) during the Pleistocene, that is, the Poyang, Dagu, Lushan and Tali glacials (Duan et al, 1980 ).…”

Entangled Aeglidae (Decapoda, Anomura): Additional evidence for cryptic species

“…The enormous progress in phylogenetic analyses gave rise to a variety of approaches for species delimitation based on molecular markers (Carstens et al., 2013). Although relying solely on molecular information to define a species is inadequate, molecular‐based delimitation methods provide preliminary taxonomic hypotheses and valuable complements to morphological taxonomy, especially in morphologically conserved groups (Li et al., 2019; Lukhtanov, 2019).…”