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The role of the environmental niche in fostering ecological divergence during adaptive radiation remains enigmatic. In this study, we examine the interplay between environmental niche divergence and conservatism in the context of adaptive radiation on oceanic islands, by characterizing the niche breadth of four Hawaiian arthropod radiations: Tetragnatha spiders (Tetragnathidae Latreille, 1804), Laupala crickets (Gryllidae Otte, 1994), a clade of Drosophila flies (Drosophilidae Fallén, 1823) and Nesosydne planthoppers (Delphacidae Kirkaldy, 1907). We assembled occurrence datasets for the four lineages, modelled their distributions and quantified niche overlap. All four groups occupy the islands in distinct ways, highlighting the contrasting axes of diversification for different lineages. Laupala and Nesosydne have opposite environmental niche extents (broad and narrow, respectively), whereas Tetragnatha and Drosophila share relatively intermediate tolerances. Temperature constrains the distributions of all four radiations. Tests of phylogenetic signal suggest that, for Tetragnatha and Drosophila, closely related species exhibit similar environmental niches; thus, diversification is associated with niche conservatism. Sister species comparisons also show that populations often retain similar environmental tolerances, although exceptions do occur. Results imply that diversification does not occur through ecological speciation; instead, adaptive radiation occurs largely within a single environment.
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Climatic niche evolution and speciation modes in the transisthmian Alpheus shrimps (Caridea: Alpheidae)
Abstract AimWe studied the niche evolution and diversification modes in transisthmianAlpheusshrimps by examining the interplay between environmental niche divergence and conservatism in allopatric sister species. In a broader perspective, the current study analysed the evolution of climatic niche and the role of the environment in species diversification ofAlpheustransisthmian shrimp. LocationAtlantic and Eastern‐Pacific oceans. TaxonAlpheusshrimps (Caridea: Alpheidae). MethodsWe assembled georeferenced occurrences for 33 species ofAlpheus(with 24 sister species) from a time‐calibrated molecular phylogeny. We modelled their ecological niches and assessed niche overlap through pairwise comparisons. Additionally, we performed phylogenetic reconstructions of the ancestral environmental niche, for each niche axis. ResultsOur results demonstrate that thermal tolerances, food availability and hydrodynamic forces were relevant environmental axes in evolutionary processes in transisthmian species ofAlpheus. Among the 528 paired comparisons, we found that most niches were divergent, including in 12 clades formed by pairs of sister species (in only two of these clades were the niches fully equivalent). Phylogenetic reconstructions of ancestral niches showed an initial niche conservatism in all axes, with divergences intensifying in the last 12 million years. Main ConclusionsWe found evidence that confirms the relevance of the environmental changes that occurred in the West Atlantic and East Pacific for niche evolution in transisthmianAlpheusspecies, as well as for the emergence of some lineages. Our findings provide evidence for different modes ofAlpheusspecies speciation in a period consistent with the closure of the Isthmus of Panama.
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- Award ID(s):
- 1924675
- PAR ID:
- 10559207
- Publisher / Repository:
- Journal of Biogeography
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Journal of Biogeography
- Volume:
- 51
- Issue:
- 10
- ISSN:
- 0305-0270
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 1944 to 1957
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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Accepted Manuscript1.0
- Journal Article:
- https://doi.org/10.1111/jbi.14864
