Multilocus phylogeny, species age and biogeography of the Lesser Antillean anoles

Publication date: Available online 22 June 2018Source: Molecular Phylogenetics and EvolutionAuthor(s): Roger S. Thorpe, Axel Barlow, Yann Surget-Groba, Anita MalhotraAbstractLesser Antillean anoles provide classic examples of island radiations. A detailed knowledge of their phylogeny and biogeography, in particular how the age of species relate to the ages of their respective islands and the age of their radiation, is essential to elucidate the tempo and mechanisms of these radiations. We conduct a large-scale phylogenetic and phylogeographic investigation of the Lesser Antillean anoles using multiple genetic markers and comprehensive geographic sampling of most species. The multilocus phylogeny gives the first well-supported reconstruction of the interspecific relationships, and the densely sampled phylogeography reveals a highly dynamic system, driven by overseas dispersal, with several alternative post-dispersal colonisation trajectories. These radiations currently occupy both the outer-older (Eocene to Miocene), and the inner-younger (<8mybp), Lesser Antillean arcs. The origin of these radiations corresponds with the age of the ancient outer arc. However, the ages of extant species (compatible with the age of other small terrestrial amniotes) are much younger, about the age of the emergence of the younger arc, or less. The difference between the age of the radiation and the age of the extant species suggests substantial species turnover on older arc islands, most like...

Source: Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution - July 10, 2018 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research