Pleistocene glacial refugia across the Appalachian Mountains and coastal plain in the millipede genus Narceus: Evidence from population genetic, phylogeographic, and paleoclimatic data

Abstract

Background: Species that are widespread throughout historically glaciated and currently nonglaciated areas provide excellent opportunities to investigate the role of Pleistocene climatic change on the distribution of North American biodiversity. Many studies indicate that northern animal populations exhibit low levels of genetic diversity over geographically widespread areas whereas southern populations exhibit relatively high levels. Recently, paleoclimatic data have been combined with niche-based distribution modeling to locate possible refugia during the Last Glacial Maximum. Using phylogeographic, population, and paleoclimatic data, we show that the distribution and mitochondrial data for the millipede genus Narceus are consistent with classical examples of Pleistocene refugia and subsequent post-glacial population expansion seen in other organismal groups.

Comparative phylogeography of the centipedes Cryptops pictus and C. niuensis (Chilopoda) in New Caledonia, Fiji and Vanuatu

“…Centipede shown: Theatops erythrocephalus (photograph by G. Giribet) observed structure of populations. The integration of environmental factors through ecological niche modeling might help clarify this issue (Murienne et al 2008b(Murienne et al , 2009Walker et al 2009). …”

“…Here, we present the first analysis of centipedes at the population level, even though a few phylogenetic studies have used multiple specimens of the same species Giribet 2008, 2009;Giribet et al 2009;Stoev et al 2010), and some have been conducted on millipedes Walker et al 2009). Ours is also the first population genetic study on any group of animals in New Caledonia.…”

Neoichnology of two spirobolid millipedes: improving the understanding of the burrows of soil detritivores

“…The species occurs in the eastern half of the United States and portions of southeastern Canada at all elevations primarily on temperate to subtropical forest floors (O'Neill, 1968a(O'Neill, , 1968bAusmus, 1977;Shelley et al, 2006). Narceus americanus has a relatively high tolerance for dry conditions which likely accounts for its widespread distribution (O'Neill, 1969;Shelley et al, 2006;Walker et al, 2009). Narceus americanus is primarily active at night in the spring; during the daylight hours and in winter N. americanus burrows into the soil to avoid desiccating conditions and cold temperatures, respectively (Walker et al, 2009).…”

“…Narceus americanus has a relatively high tolerance for dry conditions which likely accounts for its widespread distribution (O'Neill, 1969;Shelley et al, 2006;Walker et al, 2009). Narceus americanus is primarily active at night in the spring; during the daylight hours and in winter N. americanus burrows into the soil to avoid desiccating conditions and cold temperatures, respectively (Walker et al, 2009). Floridobolus penneri, also known as the Florida scrub millipede, is a large, North American millipede that reaches an adult length of 9 cm (Figure 1.2, 1.5).…”

Genetic insights into family group co-occurrence inCryptocercus punctulatus, a sub-social woodroach from the southern Appalachian Mountains

“…A pitfall trapping study by Nalepa & Grayson (2011) confirmed that large nymphs, sub-adults, and adults do occasionally move between logs. Population genetic studies have repeatedly shown that dispersal distances of wingless saproxylic invertebrates are often very short (e.g., Sunnucks et al, 2006; Garrick et al, 2007; Garrick et al, 2008; Leschen et al, 2008; Marske et al, 2009; Walker et al, 2009; Bull et al, 2013), and this is also likely to be true of C. punctulatus  (Nalepa et al, 2002). Accordingly, following colonization of an uninhabited log by a male or female woodroach, potential mates probably arrive only from logs within close proximity.…”