Rapid incision of the Mekong River in the middle Miocene linked to monsoonal precipitation

Nie, Junsheng; Ruetenik, Gregory; Gallagher, Kerry; Hoke, G. D.; Garzione, Carmala N.; Wang, Weitao; Stöckli, Daniel F.; Hu, Xiaofei; Wang, Zhao; Wang, Ying; Stevens, Thomas; Danišík, Martin; Liu, Shanpin

doi:10.1038/s41561-018-0244-z

Cited by 169 publications

(138 citation statements)

References 60 publications

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“…Although previous studies have already illustrated that these rivers could have isolated small mammals for tens of thousands of years (Liu et al, ), this study is the first to provide evidence indicating a continuous barrier effect since the Middle Miocene. Interestingly, recent geological evidence dates the establishment of the Mekong River incision to the Middle Miocene (~17 Ma; Nie et al, ), antedating the split between clades I and III, and suggesting that the Mekong River and other neighbouring rivers (e.g., the Salween River) and their associated valleys have acted as potential barriers to dispersal for millions of years.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cryptic phylogeographic history sheds light on the generation of species diversity in sky‐island mountains

Gutiérrez

Heming

et al. 2019

Journal of Biogeography

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Aim The aim of this study was to conduct comprehensive phylogeographic and demographic analyses to examine the degree to which topographic and climatic conditions have affected the patterns of diversification and migration in a strictly montane inhabitant, the montane long‐tailed mole (Scaptonyx fusicaudus). Location The mountains of south‐western China and adjacent mountains including Mts. Bashan, Dalou and Qinling also known as the sky islands in south‐western China. Taxon The long‐tailed mole (S. fusicaudus), a semi‐fossorial mammal distributed in the sky islands of south‐western China, is a relict species and the sole representative of the tribe Scaptonychini. Methods We sequenced one mitochondrial and six nuclear genes from 113 samples across the species’ range. We estimated phylogenetic relationships and divergence times, conducted genetic structuring and species delimitation using multiple approaches and used Approximate Bayesian Computation to test potential gene flow. We conducted ecological niche modelling to predict the species’ potential distribution in the present, the last glacial maximum and the last interglacial (LIG). Results The species comprises a minimum of 17 operational taxonomic units which are isolated in different mountain ranges. The lowlands and large rivers act as barriers to dispersal, and have isolated evolutionary lineages for up to 11 million years. Long‐distance dispersal is evident among a few discrete montane archipelagos. Suitable climatic conditions during the LIG are limited to only a few sites, thus geographically restricting climatic stable areas across geological periods (from the LIG to the present). Main conclusions For low‐vagility species, the complex topography of the sky islands has promoted exceptional diversification through a combination of eco‐environmental stability as well as geographic fragmentation. The mountains have acted as a buffer against climate change, and have provided continuously suitable habitats for S. fusicaudus since the early Late Miocene, supporting the hypothesis that the sky islands constitute “museums” of ancient lineages. Lowlands and river valleys have acted as barriers preventing gene flow, while the montane archipelagos could have provided stepping stones to facilitate dispersal.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cryptic phylogeographic history sheds light on the generation of species diversity in sky‐island mountains

Gutiérrez

Heming

et al. 2019

Journal of Biogeography

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“…Clark et al (2005) suggested that resulting higher elevations were related to the increase in SE Asia monsoon intensity, which has been attested by weathering records in the Indus and Bengal Fans (Clift et al, 2008). Nie et al (2018) also supported the hypothesis of a link between monsoon intensification and rapid river incision recorded by AHe data along the Mekong River; however, this was based on the comparison of one AHe data point in the upper reaches of the Mekong River with six samples from an altitudinal profile located ~800 km further south along the lower Mekong River (Fig. 3A).…”

Section: Implications On the Exhumation History Of Se Tibetmentioning

confidence: 86%

“…1). Several studies based on different techniques have constrained erosion in several locations along these rivers at the million-year time scale (Clark et al, 2005;Ouimet et al, 2010;Wilson and Fowler, 2011;Duvall et al, 2012;Tian et al, 2014;Ping et al, 2015;Zhang et al, 2015;Shen et al, 2016;Yang et al, 2016;McPhillips et al, 2016;Liu-Zeng et al, 2018;Nie et al, 2018) and at the 1-100 k.y. time scale (Henck et al, 2011;Zhang et al, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evolution of the Yangtze River network, southeastern Tibet: Insights from thermochronology and sedimentology

et al. 2019

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We performed apatite and zircon (U-Th)/He dating on a granitic pluton that has been offset by ~10 km by motion on the sinistral strikeslip Xiangcheng fault in SW Sichuan, SE Tibetan plateau, where the Shuoqu River incises a deep valley before joining the upper Yangtze River. Mean ZHe cooling ages range from 49.5 ± 2.2 Ma to 68.6 ± 6.0 Ma. Samples located above 3870 m yield mean apatite (U-Th)/He ages ranging from 30.6 ± 1.4 Ma to 40.6 ± 2.7 Ma, whereas samples at lower elevations range from 9.8 ± 1.3 Ma to 14.6 ± 2.7 Ma. In the same region, Cenozoic continental sediments are exposed on the flanks of deep valleys. They consist of unsorted conglomerates and sandstones that partly fill a paleotopography. The sediments were deposited during an episode of rapid sedimentation, followed by incision that varies between 0.5 and 1.2 km. Thermal and exhumational modeling of the granite thermochronometric data indicates rapid cooling during the middle Miocene that was likely related to fluvial incision. Our findings suggest that the upper Yangtze River and its tributary (Shuoqu) were connected by the middle Miocene. Our modeling also supports the idea that the exhumation pattern during the Cenozoic in the southeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau is spatially and temporally heterogeneous.

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“…This suggested the Gap may originate with the onset of monsoons in the early Miocene, and have persisted since then. Asian monsoon systems have not only impacted habitat structures in Asian mountains (Nie et al, ) and are also related to biological diversifications across Asia (Spicer, ). Because the Himalayas were mainly impacted by the Indian Monsoon system and the Hengduan Mountains/Yun‐Gui Plateau was mainly impacted by the East Asian monsoon system (Ding et al, ; Spicer, ), the responses of environmental changes to the Asian monsoon system in the Himalayas and the Hengduan Mountains/Yun‐Gui Plateau may be different due to the different geological positions of the Himalayas and the Hengduan Mountains/Yun‐Gui Plateau.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Gap-him-hmymentioning

confidence: 99%

An ecological barrier between the Himalayas and the Hengduan Mountains maintains the disjunct distribution of Roscoea

Zhao

et al. 2019

Journal of Biogeography

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Aim Regional disjunction in mountainous regions is ubiquitous and is closely associated with the evolution of mountain biodiversity. However, the mechanisms of maintaining regional disjunction are often ignored, especially regarding the role of ecological barriers. The aim of this study is to test whether an ecological barrier maintains the regional disjunction of Roscoea between the Himalayas (HIM) and the Hengduan Mountains/Yun‐Gui Plateau (HMY). Location The Himalayas and the Hengduan Mountains/Yun‐Gui Plateau, Asia. Taxon Monocot:Zingiberales:Zingiberaceae:Roscoea. Methods Occurrence data from Roscoea were collected from public databases and field investigations. Environmental niche modelling (ENM) was used to predict the potential distribution of Roscoea during the Last Interglacial (LIG), the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), the present and the future. An environmental variable difference test, principal component analysis (PCA), discriminant function analysis (DFA) and niche identity test were employed to qualify and quantify the contributions of environmental factors to ecological divergence based on 7 and 26 environmental variables. Results Environmental niche modelling predicted an ecological gap of Roscoea between the HIM and the HMY from the LIG into the future, excluding the LGM. Statistically significant differences were detected in eight unique environmental variables across the Gap, which was mostly related to low temperatures and high moisture levels. The PCA, DFA and niche identity test suggested larger ecological separations among the Gap, the HIM and the HMY based on 26 environmental variables than based on seven variables. Main conclusions All clues point to an ecological barrier that has been maintaining the regional disjunction of Roscoea. This ecological barrier is predicted to be stable under future climate change and may reflect long‐term ecological divergence shaped by the adaptation of Roscoea to divergent habitats. Our study highlights that the effects of specific environmental variables, with possible interactions among multiple ecological factors, being closely related to the ecological barrier.

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Rapid incision of the Mekong River in the middle Miocene linked to monsoonal precipitation

Cited by 169 publications

References 60 publications

Cryptic phylogeographic history sheds light on the generation of species diversity in sky‐island mountains

Cryptic phylogeographic history sheds light on the generation of species diversity in sky‐island mountains

Evolution of the Yangtze River network, southeastern Tibet: Insights from thermochronology and sedimentology

An ecological barrier between the Himalayas and the Hengduan Mountains maintains the disjunct distribution of Roscoea

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