Insights from ecological niche modeling on the taxonomic distinction and niche differentiation between the black‐spotted and red‐spotted tokay geckoes (Gekko gecko)

Ecology and Evolution

Yueyun Zhang¹  Chongtao Chen²  Li Li¹  Chengjian Zhao¹  Weicai Chen³ 

[1] Guangxi Botanical Garden of Medicinal Plants, Nanning, Guangxi, China;Nanning Zoo, Nanning, Guangxi, China;Natural History Museum of Guangxi, Nanning, Guangxi, China

关键词: Climate;    ecological speciation;    Gekko gecko;    Gekko reevesii;    MaxEnt;    niche divergence;    taxonomy;   

DOI  :  10.1002/ece3.1183

来源: Wiley

【 摘 要 】

Abstract

The black-spotted tokay and the red-spotted tokay are morphologically distinct and have largely allopatric distributions. The black-spotted tokay is characterized by a small body size and dark skin with sundry spots, while the red-spotted tokay has a relatively large body size and red spots. Based on morphological, karyotypic, genetic, and distribution differences, recent studies suggested their species status; however, their classifications remain controversial, and additional data such as ecological niches are necessary to establish firm hypotheses regarding their taxonomic status. We reconstructed their ecological niches models using climatic and geographic data. We then performed niche similarity tests (niche identity and background tests) and point-based analyses to explore whether ecological differentiation has occurred, and whether such differences are sufficient to explain the maintenance of their separate segments of environmental ranges. We found that both niche models of the black- and the red-spotted tokay had a good fit and a robust performance, as indicated by the high area under the curve (AUC) values (“black” = 0.982, SD = ± 0.002, “red” = 0.966 ± 0.02). Significant ecological differentiation across the entire geographic range was found, indicating that the involvement of ecological differentiation is important for species differentiation. Divergence along the environmental axes is highly associated with climatic conditions, with isothermality being important for the “black” form, while temperature seasonality, precipitation of warmest quarter, and annual temperature range together being important for the “red” form. These factors are likely important factors in niche differentiation between the two forms, which result in morphological replacement. Overall, beside morphological and genetic differentiation information, our results contribute to additional insights into taxonomic distinction and niche differentiation between the black- and the red-spotted tokay.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2014 The Authors. Ecology and Evolution published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.