More Like this

1. Taxon pulse dynamics, episodic dispersal and host colonization across Beringia drive diversification of a Holarctic tapeworm assemblage

   https://doi.org/10.1111/jbi.13949  

   Haas, Genevieve M. S. ; Hoberg, Eric P. ; Cook, Joseph A. ; Henttonen, Heikki ; Makarikov, Arseny A. ; Gallagher, Sarah R. ; Dokuchaev, Nikolai E. ; Galbreath, Kurt E. ( September 2020 , Journal of Biogeography)

   We test the predictions of the Stockholm Paradigm, a synthesis of eco‐evolutionary theory explaining the nature of faunal assembly, host range and parasite diversification. Faunal diversification and assembly, manifested in patterns of host colonization, co‐adaptation and parasite speciation, are predicted to emerge as a consequence of alternating episodes of ecological disruption and stability. Specifically, for a diverse cestode genus (Arostrilepis), we evaluate the number and direction of Pleistocene dispersal events across Beringia, the number and relative timing of host colonization events and the relationship between host and parasite biogeographic histories and associations through time.

   Beringia and adjacent temperate to arctic biomes in North America and Eurasia.

   Arostrilepis(Cyclophyllidea: Hymenolepididae) and its rodent hosts.

   Multi‐locus phylogenetic reconstruction and biogeographic ancestral range estimation.

   Arostrilepislineages crossed Beringia eastward into North America a minimum of four times and westward into Asia twice in association with temporally disjunct geographic expansions of three major tribes of cricetid rodents (Arvicolini, Myodini, Lemmini). Inferences of ancestral host associations support at least nine instances of host colonization involving shifts from one rodent tribe or family to another. Several previously unrecognized lineages ofArostrilepisare revealed.

   Consistent with expectations of the Stockholm Paradigm, episodes of intercontinental dispersal were both frequent in the history ofArostrilepisand preceded a majority of inferred host‐colonization events. Events of historical geographic expansion created numerous opportunities for development of novel host–parasite associations through ecological fitting, as parasites tracked historically conserved resources available across diverse host taxa. Beringia played a major role in shaping rodent/parasite assemblages by mediating dispersal between the northern continents during glacial episodes of the Pleistocene, rather than by serving as a zone of refugial isolation.

    

   more » « less
2. An elevational shift facilitated the Mesoamerican diversification of Azure‐hooded Jays ( Cyanolyca cucullata ) during the Great American Biotic Interchange

   https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.10411  

   McCormack, John E. ; Hill, Molly M. ; DeRaad, Devon A. ; Kirsch, Eliza J. ; Reckling, Kelsey R. ; Mutchler, Marquette J. ; Ramirez, Brenda R. ; Campbell, Russell M. L. ; Salter, Jessie F. ; Pizarro, Alana K. ; et al ( August 2023 , Ecology and Evolution)

   The Great American Biotic Interchange (GABI) was a key biogeographic event in the history of the Americas. The rising of the Panamanian land bridge ended the isolation of South America and ushered in a period of dispersal, mass extinction, and new community assemblages, which sparked competition, adaptation, and speciation. Diversification across many bird groups, and the elevational zonation of others, ties back to events triggered by the GABI. But the exact timing of these events is still being revealed, with recent studies suggesting a much earlier time window for faunal exchange, perhaps as early as 20 million years ago (Mya). Using a time‐calibrated phylogenetic tree, we show that the jay genusCyanolycais emblematic of bird dispersal trends, with an early, pre‐land bridge dispersal from Mesoamerica to South America 6.3–7.3 Mya, followed by a back‐colonization ofC. cucullatato Mesoamerica 2.3–4.8 Mya, likely after the land bridge was complete. AsCyanolycaspecies came into contact in Mesoamerica, they avoided competition due to a prior shift to lower elevation in the ancestor ofC. cucullata. This shift allowedC. cucullatato integrate itself into the Mesoamerican highland avifauna, which our time‐calibrated phylogeny suggests was already populated by higher‐elevation, congeneric dwarf‐jays (C. argentigula,C. pumilo,C. mirabilis, andC. nanus). The outcome of these events and fortuitous elevational zonation was thatC. cucullatacould continue colonizing new highland areas farther north during the Pleistocene. Resultingly, fourC. cucullatalineages became isolated in allopatric, highland regions from Panama to Mexico, diverging in genetics, morphology, plumage, and vocalizations. At least two of these lineages are best described as species (C. mitrataandC. cucullata). Continued study will further document the influence of the GABI and help clarify how dispersal and vicariance shaped modern‐day species assemblages in the Americas.

    

   more » « less
3. A stable isotope record of late Quaternary hydrologic change in the northwestern Brooks Range, Alaska (eastern Beringia)

   https://doi.org/10.1002/jqs.3368  

   King, Amanda L. ; Anderson, Lesleigh ; Abbott, Mark ; Edwards, Mary ; Finkenbinder, Matthew S. ; Finney, Bruce ; Wooller, Matthew J. ( September 2021 , Journal of Quaternary Science)

   A submillennial‐resolution record of lake water oxygen isotope composition (δ¹⁸O) from chironomid head capsules is presented from Burial Lake, northwest Alaska. The record spans the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM; ~20–16k cal abp) to the present and shows a series of large lake δ¹⁸O shifts (~5‰). Relatively low δ¹⁸O values occurred during a period covering the LGM, when the lake was a shallow, closed‐basin pond. Higher values characterize deglaciation (~16–11.5k cal abp) when the lake was still closed but lake levels were higher. A rapid decline between ~11 and 10.5k cal abpindicates that lake levels rose to overflowing. Lake δ¹⁸O values are interpreted to reflect the combined effects of changes in lake hydrology, growing season temperature and meteoric source water as well as large‐scale environmental changes impacting this site, including opening of the Bering Strait and shifts in atmospheric circulation patterns related to ice‐sheet dynamics. The results indicate significant shifts in precipitation minus evaporation across the late Pleistocene to early Holocene transition, which are consistent with temporal patterns of vegetation change and paludification. This study provides new perspectives on the paleohydrology of eastern Beringia concomitant with human migration and major turnover in megafaunal assemblages.

    

   more » « less
4. Phylogeography of Solomon Islands blossom bats reflects oceanic divides and Pleistocene connections

   https://doi.org/10.1111/jbi.14585  

   Lavery, Tyrone H. ; DeCicco, Lucas H. ; Olson, Karen V. ; Holland, Piokera S. ; Moyle, Robert G. ( March 2023 , Journal of Biogeography)

   Periodic lowering of sea levels and formation of land bridges can reshape phylogeographic patterns of insular biotas. Using archipelago‐wide sampling, we aimed to test if phylogeography of an old‐endemic bat lineage reflected Pleistocene land bridges.

   Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea.

   MelonycterisandNesonycterisbats (Pteropodidae).

   We sequenced genome‐wide RADseq data for 49 specimens from 15 islands. We assessed phylogenetic relationships using maximum likelihood inRAxMLand quartet‐based methods inSVDquartets, population structure usingStructure, and admixture using maximum likelihood methods inTreeMix. We tested for genetic and geographic distance correlations using distance‐based redundancy analyses (dbRDA), identifying best‐fit models using stepwise model selection.

   Phylogenetic analyses identified fiveNesonycterisclades corresponding to Greater Bukida, Guadalcanal, Makira, Malaita and New Georgia group. Makira samples were sister to remainingNesonycteris.Structureidentified four populations: New IrelandMelonycteris melanops; andNesonycterisfrom Greater Bukida (including Guadalcanal); Malaita and Makira; and New Georgia group. Genetic backgrounds of Mono, Ngella and Guadalcanal separated from remaining Greater Bukida islands. Makira and Malaita separated into two populations. New Georgia group lacked structure, and genetic and geographic distances were not correlated. The best‐fit geographic distance models forNesonycterisand a Greater Bukida subset were least shore‐to‐shore distance; and Euclidean and least‐cost distances respectively.

   Influences of modern and Pleistocene island isolation and connectivity were evident in the overall Phylogeography ofNesonycteris. The lack of structure or geographic distance correlations within the New Georgia group indicated all islands were interconnected during the Last Glacial Maximum or contemporary oceanic divides are ineffective barriers. Conversely, genetic divergence across Greater Bukida islands reflected land‐bridge constrained dispersal. A Makira clade sister to allNesonycterispossibly indicates an origin on Makira. Alternately it reflects Makira's long‐isolated geographic status, as similar results exist for a range of taxa.

    

   more » « less
5. Ancient bears provide insights into Pleistocene ice age refugia in Southeast Alaska

   https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.16960  

   da Silva Coelho, Flavio Augusto ; Gill, Stephanie ; Tomlin, Crystal M. ; Papavassiliou, Marilena ; Farley, Sean D. ; Cook, Joseph A. ; Sonsthagen, Sarah A. ; Sage, George K. ; Heaton, Timothy H. ; Talbot, Sandra L. ; et al ( April 2023 , Molecular Ecology)

   During the Late Pleistocene, major parts of North America were periodically covered by ice sheets. However, there are still questions about whether ice‐free refugia were present in the Alexander Archipelago along the Southeast (SE) Alaska coast during the last glacial maximum (LGM). Numerous subfossils have been recovered from caves in SE Alaska, including American black (Ursus americanus) and brown (U. arctos) bears, which today are found in the Alexander Archipelago but are genetically distinct from mainland bear populations. Hence, these bear species offer an ideal system to investigate long‐term occupation, potential refugial survival and lineage turnover. Here, we present genetic analyses based on 99 new complete mitochondrial genomes from ancient and modern brown and black bears spanning the last ~45,000 years. Black bears form two SE Alaskan subclades, one preglacial and another postglacial, that diverged >100,000 years ago. All postglacial ancient brown bears are closely related to modern brown bears in the archipelago, while a single preglacial brown bear is found in a distantly related clade. A hiatus in the bear subfossil record around the LGM and the deep split of their pre‐ and postglacial subclades fail to support a hypothesis of continuous occupancy in SE Alaska throughout the LGM for either species. Our results are consistent with an absence of refugia along the SE Alaska coast, but indicate that vegetation quickly expanded after deglaciation, allowing bears to recolonize the area after a short‐lived LGM peak.

    

   more » « less