The legacy of Eastern Mediterranean mountain uplifts: rapid disparity of phylogenetic niche conservatism and divergence in mountain vipers

BMC Evolutionary Biology

article

Ahmadi, Mohsen¹  Hemami, Mahmoud-Reza¹  Kaboli, Mohammad²  Nazarizadeh, Masoud³  Malekian, Mansoureh¹  Behrooz, Roozbeh⁵  Geniez, Philippe⁵  Alroy, John⁶  Zimmermann, Niklaus E.⁷ 

[1] Department of Natural Resources, Isfahan University of Technology;Department of Environmental Science, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran;Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia;Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre CAS;University of Montpellier;Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University;Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL

关键词: Allopatric speciation;    Biogeography;    Divergence dating;    Diversification;    Mountain orogeny;    Niche evolution;    Niche modelling;    Near East;    Middle East;    Montivipera;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12862-021-01863-0

学科分类：护理学

来源: BioMed Central

【 摘 要 】

The orogeny of the eastern Mediterranean region has substantially affected ecological speciation patterns, particularly of mountain-dwelling species. Mountain vipers of the genus Montivipera are among the paramount examples of Mediterranean neo-endemism, with restricted ranges in the mountains of Anatolia, the Levant, Caucasus, Alborz, and Zagros. Here we explore the phylogenetic and ecological diversification of Montivipera to reconstruct its ecological niche evolution and biogeographic history. Using 177 sequences of three mitochondrial genes, a dated molecular phylogeny of mountain vipers was reconstructed. Based on 320 occurrence points within the entire range of the genus and six climatic variables, ecological niches were modelled and used to infer ancestral niche occupancy. In addition, the biogeographic history and ancestral states of the species were reconstructed across climate gradients. Dated phylogenetic reconstruction revealed that the ancestor of mountain vipers split into two major clades at around 12.18 Mya followed by multiple vicariance events due to rapid orogeny. Montivipera colonised coastal regions from a mountain-dwelling ancestor. We detected a highly complex ecological niche evolution of mountain vipers to temperature seasonality, a variable that also showed a strong phylogenetic signal and high contribution in niche occupation. Raising mountain belts in the Eastern Mediterranean region and subsequent remarkable changes in temperature seasonality have led to the formation of important centres of diversification and endemism in this biodiversity hotspot. High rates of niche conservatism, low genetic diversity, and segregation of ranges into the endemic distribution negatively influenced the adaptive capacity of mountain vipers. We suggest that these species should be considered as evolutionary significant units and priority species for conservation in Mediterranean mountain ecosystems.

【 授权许可】

CC BY|CC0