Phylogenetics of the pademelons (Macropodidae: Thylogale) and historical biogeography of the Australo-Papuan region

A multilocus coalescent analysis of the speciational history of the Australo-Papuan butcherbirds and their allies

“…3), consistent with similar complex phylogeographic patterns and deep divergences in other New Guinean species (e.g. macropods, genus Thylogale, Macqueen et al, 2010;birds, Colluricincla megarhyncha, Deiner et al, 2011).…”

“…Similar factors cannot be ruled out in the case of the early divergence between New Guinean Peltops and mostly Australian-centred Strepera plus Cracticus lineage (17-28 Ma). That case could be interpreted to support the hypothesis that rainforest-inhabiting lineages were able to persist in isolation on the proto-New Guinean islands prior to the formation of the current New Guinean landmass 2-5 Ma (Joseph et al, 2001;Krajewski et al, 2004;Westerman et al, 2006;Roelants et al, 2007;Malekian et al, 2010;Macqueen et al, 2010;JØnsson et al, 2011;Toon et al, 2012).…”

“…Recent attempts using time-calibrated phylogenies have supported the hypothesis that increasing aridity from 25 Ma allowed the diversification of arid-adapted lineages in Australia (e.g. Crisp et al, 2004;Meredith et al, 2008;Fujita et al, 2010;Pepper et al, 2011;Toon et al, 2012), and that the proto-New Guinean islands supported biota prior to the formation of the New Guinean landmass (Joseph et al, 2001Krajewski et al, 2004;Westerman et al, 2006;Roelants et al, 2007;Malekian et al, 2010;Macqueen et al, 2010;Jønsson et al, 2011;Toon et al, 2012). However, there are still too few studies incorporating multilocus datasets and complete sampling of extant taxa and key geographic regions (e.g.…”

The Australian monsoon tropics as a barrier for exchange of dragonflies (Insecta: Odonata) between New Guinea and Australia

“…1). At least during the last Pleistocene Glacial Maximum this land bridge is thought to have been an extensive plain with rivers, open woodland and riparian gallery forest (Macqueen et al, 2010). Part of this plain was the large freshwater to brackish Lake Carpentaria which received water from rivers originating from both Australia and New Guinea (Reeves et al, 2007) and it has been suggested that it formed a connection between the freshwater faunas of Australia and New Guinea (Allen & Hoese, 1980, McGuigan et al, 2000.…”

“…He suggested that the disjunct distributions of freshwater fish dated from before the Pleistocene perhaps as early as the Miocene (5.3-23 Ma) and stated that the influences of Plio-Pleistocene events on broad patterns of freshwater fish distributions seemed minimal. The summary of published estimates for the timing of divergence of terrestrial vertebrates based on DNA sequence data between Australia and New Guinea (Macqueen et al, 2010) shows that faunal exchange occurred during several periods since the late Miocene indicating that a suitable land connection was repeatedly present. It is noteworthy that although exchange of terrestrial vertebrates occurred over a long period, it seems to have been at a lower level during the late Pleistocene despite there being a broad connection between the two areas.…”