Diversificação evolutiva das borboletas montanas da Mata Atlântica

Author(s)

Luiza de Moraes Magaldi

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: Campinas, SP.
• Institution: Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Instituto de Biologia
• Defense date: 2021-10-25

Examining board members

Karina Lucas Silva Brandão; Ronaldo Bastos Francini; Sónia Cristina da Silva Andrade; Clarisse Palma da Silva

• Advisor: André Victor Lucci Freitas; Karina Lucas Silva Brandão

Abstract

The Atlantic Forest Mountain ranges are suitable environments for evolutionary and biogeographic studies on diversification, as they present a high altitudinal and topographical variation, with a seasonal climate with variation in rainfall and temperature regimes. Butterflies are excellent models for evolutionary studies, as they are sensitive to environmental and climatic changes. Butterflies of the genus Actinote and its tribe Acraeini (Heliconiinae: Nymphalidae) were used as models for biogeographic and phylogeographic studies. The phylogeny of the Acraeini tribe was inferred using molecular markers and its spatiotemporal distribution pattern was estimated. Long-distance dispersal was an important process in the diversification of Acraeini, indicating that the clade originated in the Afrotropical region and dispersed to other tropical regions during the Neogene. In the Neotropical region, multiple independent colonizations occurred from the Atlantic Forest to the Andes region, suggesting a dispersal route between these biomes. The population genomics of three Actinote species endemic to the montane Atlantic Forest of the "red-orange mimetic complex" were studied. Two sister species of Actinote are distributed in different mountain blocks: A. mantiqueira occurs in Serra da Mantiqueira and in the northern portion of Serra do Mar, while A. alalia occurs in the Serra Geral and in the southern portion of Serra do Mar. The genomic population study showed that populations have a genetic structure congruent with mountain ranges. Additionally, a pattern of isolation by distance was observed in these species. This pattern corroborates an allopatric speciation process in these species, possibly triggered by population isolation during Pleistocene climatic variations. Actinote conspicua and A. mantiqueira are species of the red-orange mimetic clade that are parapatric distributed in southeastern Brazil. Actinote mantiqueira has a higher and more restricted altitudinal distribution than A. conspicua. Actinote mantiqueira populations have a higher FST and genetic structure congruent with the mountain ranges where it occurs. Conversely, A. conspicua has a more extensive distribution, occurring in places with lower altitudes when compared to A. mantiqueira. And differently from what is expected for montane species, A. conspicua presents a genetic structure inconsistent with the Atlantic Forest landscape. Three analyzes were applied to detect under-selection loci in these species. Several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were detected between A. conspicua and A. mantiqueira with a natural selection signal, more than the amount observed between A. mantiqueira and A. alalia. The ecological differences observed in these species may be associated with the different genetic and adaptive patterns observed. Additionally, the first reference genome of the Acraeini tribe was assembled, the genome of A. conspicua, which was used for the annotation of candidate genes under selection (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 15/24663-4 - Biogeographic and diversification patterns of the butterflies from Highlands of Southeastern Brazil
• Grantee: Luiza de Moraes Magaldi
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate