Last Glacial Maximum led to community-wide population expansion in a montane songbird radiation in highland Papua New Guinea
Abstract Background Quaternary climate fluctuations are an engine of biotic diversification. Global cooling cycles, such as the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), are known to have fragmented the ranges of higher-latitude fauna and flora into smaller refugia, dramatically reducing species ranges. However,...
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doaj-2068e70a159548f58872a1f79691e6452021-09-02T11:52:35ZengBMCBMC Evolutionary Biology1471-21482020-07-0120111010.1186/s12862-020-01646-zLast Glacial Maximum led to community-wide population expansion in a montane songbird radiation in highland Papua New GuineaKritika M. Garg0Balaji Chattopadhyay1Bonny Koane2Katerina Sam3Frank E. Rheindt4Department of Biological Science, National University of SingaporeDepartment of Biological Science, National University of SingaporeThe New Guinea Binatang Research CentreBiology Centre CAS, Institute of EntomologyDepartment of Biological Science, National University of SingaporeAbstract Background Quaternary climate fluctuations are an engine of biotic diversification. Global cooling cycles, such as the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), are known to have fragmented the ranges of higher-latitude fauna and flora into smaller refugia, dramatically reducing species ranges. However, relatively less is known about the effects of cooling cycles on tropical biota. Results We analyzed thousands of genome-wide DNA markers across an assemblage of three closely related understorey-inhabiting scrubwrens (Sericornis and Aethomyias; Aves) from montane forest along an elevational gradient on Mt. Wilhelm, the highest mountain of Papua New Guinea. Despite species-specific differences in elevational preference, we found limited differentiation within each scrubwren species, but detected a strong genomic signature of simultaneous population expansions at 27-29 ka, coinciding with the onset of the LGM. Conclusion The remarkable synchronous timing of population expansions of all three species demonstrates the importance of global cooling cycles in expanding highland habitat. Global cooling cycles have likely had strongly different impacts on tropical montane areas versus boreal and temperate latitudes, leading to population expansions in the former and serious fragmentation in the latter.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12862-020-01646-zQuaternary glaciationsScrubwrensSericornisDemographic historyGenetic expansion |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Kritika M. Garg Balaji Chattopadhyay Bonny Koane Katerina Sam Frank E. Rheindt |
spellingShingle |
Kritika M. Garg Balaji Chattopadhyay Bonny Koane Katerina Sam Frank E. Rheindt Last Glacial Maximum led to community-wide population expansion in a montane songbird radiation in highland Papua New Guinea BMC Evolutionary Biology Quaternary glaciations Scrubwrens Sericornis Demographic history Genetic expansion |
author_facet |
Kritika M. Garg Balaji Chattopadhyay Bonny Koane Katerina Sam Frank E. Rheindt |
author_sort |
Kritika M. Garg |
title |
Last Glacial Maximum led to community-wide population expansion in a montane songbird radiation in highland Papua New Guinea |
title_short |
Last Glacial Maximum led to community-wide population expansion in a montane songbird radiation in highland Papua New Guinea |
title_full |
Last Glacial Maximum led to community-wide population expansion in a montane songbird radiation in highland Papua New Guinea |
title_fullStr |
Last Glacial Maximum led to community-wide population expansion in a montane songbird radiation in highland Papua New Guinea |
title_full_unstemmed |
Last Glacial Maximum led to community-wide population expansion in a montane songbird radiation in highland Papua New Guinea |
title_sort |
last glacial maximum led to community-wide population expansion in a montane songbird radiation in highland papua new guinea |
publisher |
BMC |
series |
BMC Evolutionary Biology |
issn |
1471-2148 |
publishDate |
2020-07-01 |
description |
Abstract Background Quaternary climate fluctuations are an engine of biotic diversification. Global cooling cycles, such as the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), are known to have fragmented the ranges of higher-latitude fauna and flora into smaller refugia, dramatically reducing species ranges. However, relatively less is known about the effects of cooling cycles on tropical biota. Results We analyzed thousands of genome-wide DNA markers across an assemblage of three closely related understorey-inhabiting scrubwrens (Sericornis and Aethomyias; Aves) from montane forest along an elevational gradient on Mt. Wilhelm, the highest mountain of Papua New Guinea. Despite species-specific differences in elevational preference, we found limited differentiation within each scrubwren species, but detected a strong genomic signature of simultaneous population expansions at 27-29 ka, coinciding with the onset of the LGM. Conclusion The remarkable synchronous timing of population expansions of all three species demonstrates the importance of global cooling cycles in expanding highland habitat. Global cooling cycles have likely had strongly different impacts on tropical montane areas versus boreal and temperate latitudes, leading to population expansions in the former and serious fragmentation in the latter. |
topic |
Quaternary glaciations Scrubwrens Sericornis Demographic history Genetic expansion |
url |
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12862-020-01646-z |
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