Geographic restriction, genetic divergence, and morphological disparity in the Brazilian Atlantic Forests: Insights from Leposoma lizards (Gymnophthalmidae, Squamata)

Author(s)

Damasceno, Roberta P. ^{[1, 2]} ; Carnaval, Ana Carolina ^{[3, 4]} ; Sass, Chodon ^{[2, 5]} ; Recoder, Renato Sousa ^[1] ; Moritz, Craig ^{[2, 6, 7]} ; Rodrigues, Miguel Trefaut ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Biociencias, Rua Matao, Trav 14, 321, Cidade Univ, BR-05508090 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Calif Berkeley, Museum Vertebrate Zool, 3101 Valley Life Sci Bldg, Berkeley, CA 94720 - USA

^[3] CUNY, Dept Biol, Grad Ctr, City Coll New York, 160 Convent Ave, Marshak Life Sci Bldg J-526, New York, NY 10031 - USA

^[4] CUNY, Biol Program, Grad Ctr, 160 Convent Ave, Marshak Life Sci Bldg J-526, New York, NY 10031 - USA

^[5] Univ Calif Berkeley, Univ & Jepson Herbaria, 1001 Valley Life Sci Bldg, Berkeley, CA 94720 - USA

^[6] Australian Natl Univ, Res Sch Biol, Div Ecol & Evolut, 46 Sullivans Creek Rd, Acton, ACT 2601 - Australia

^[7] Australian Natl Univ, Ctr Biodivers Anal, 46 Sullivans Creek Rd, Acton, ACT 2601 - Australia

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution; v. 154, JAN 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Lineage differentiation, long-term persistence, and range limitation promote high levels of phylogenetic and phylogeographic endemisms and likely underlie the abundant morphologically cryptic diversity observed in the Brazilian Atlantic Forests (AF). We explore lineage differentiation and range restriction in the AF and ask if genetic divergence and morphological disparity are correlated by integrating coalescent-based species delimitation, molecular phylogenetic, and morphological analyses in the lizard genus Leposoma. We present the first species tree for Leposoma and of their tribe, the Ecpleopodini. The analyses are based on the largest dataset ever assembled for Leposoma in terms of number of species (all represented), genetic markers (12 loci), and geographic coverage (similar to 2,500 km). The exercise allows us to robustly delimit species within the genus and phylogeographic lineages within all species. We find support for the monophyly of the genus and for the recognition of a yet undescribed species around the Bala de Todos-os-Santos, in the state of Bahia; this form is distinct from all other congeners, both genetically and morphologically. We find that L. baturitensis, from the northeastern state of Cear ` a, is basal to the genus - and sister to a clade of six species restricted to the AF across the eastern coast of Brazil. Relationships within this coastal clade are ((((L. annectans, Leposoma sp.), L. scincoides), L. puk) (L. nanodactylus, L. sinepollex)). Phylogenetic and phylogeographic analyses, together with precise distribution data, allowed us to update the ranges of species and phylogeographic lineages. We reveal pervasive geographic restriction of divergent lineages in Leposoma at and below species level and discuss how forest refuges and rivers might have contributed to it. We find that morphological disparity lags behind genetic divergence in the genus because although they are correlated, the first accumulates at a much slower rate than the latter. We hope to encourage new studies in the area of AF north of the Doce river; phylogeographic sampling in that region has been much less common relative to southern sites, yet it may hold the key to several important processes defining biodiversity patterns in eastern Brazil. This appears to specially apply to processes underlying geographic restriction of morphologically cryptic, yet genetic divergent lineages, as the case of Leposoma. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 03/10335-8 - Systematics and evolution of the herpetological fauna from Neotropical areas
• Grantee: Miguel Trefaut Urbano Rodrigues
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 11/50146-6 - Comparative phylogeography, phylogeny, paleoclimate modeling, and taxonomy of neotropical reptiles and amphibians
• Grantee: Miguel Trefaut Urbano Rodrigues
• Support Opportunities: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 15/11498-5 - Genomic model-based comparative phylogeography of Atlantic Forest lizards: reconstructing historical demography and divergence history in a hotspot
• Grantee: Roberta Pacheco Damasceno
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• FAPESP's process: 13/50297-0 - Dimensions US-BIOTA São Paulo: a multidisciplinary framework for biodiversity prediction in the Brazilian Atlantic forest hotspot
• Grantee: Cristina Yumi Miyaki
• Support Opportunities: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 13/22477-3 - Hybridization and mechanisms of reproductive isolation of Atlantic Forest lizards
• Grantee: Roberta Pacheco Damasceno
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral