Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution最新文献

{"title":"Little treasures hidden in the darkness: diversity and phylogeny of stygobiotic hydrobiidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda) of the Caucasus","authors":"Elizaveta Chertoprud ,&nbsp;Irina Ekimova ,&nbsp;Dmitry Palatov ,&nbsp;Jozef Grego ,&nbsp;Levan Mumladze ,&nbsp;Maxim Vinarski","doi":"10.1016/j.ympev.2025.108439","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ympev.2025.108439","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Hydrobiidae is the most diverse and species-rich freshwater gastropod family in the Palearctic. Their diversity in the Caucasus region remains largely unexplored and the phylogenetic relationships with European taxa have not been clarified yet. The primary objective of this study is to perform a molecular phylogenetic analysis of the stygobiotic Hydrobiidae of the Caucasus with an increased taxon sampling and incorporation of multiple molecular markers. We show that the Caucasian hydrobiids are represented by three distinct lineages of a subfamily rank: (1) Caucasopsiinae <strong>subfam.nov.</strong>, comprises most of the stygobiotic hydrobiid genera endemic to Caucasus; (2) Belgrandiellinae includes a single stygobiotic genus <em>Sitnikovia</em> and a complex of crenobiotic genera; (3) Islamiinae is represented by a single monotypic genus. The Caucasian stygobiotic hydrobiids are represented by 13 genera, five of which were identified as new for science, and at least 37 species, including a significant number (20 species) of putative new taxa. Analysis of the soft-body anatomy revealed that the female reproductive system showed the best congruence with the phylogenetic relationships. Shell morphology showed high variability at both inter- and intrageneric level, questioning the generic assignment of species based on empty shells. The Caucasian stygobiotic Hydrobiidae show high endemism at all taxonomical levels from species to subfamilies, which probably reflects their long evolution in relative isolation from the hydrobiid clades inhabiting other regions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56109,"journal":{"name":"Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution","volume":"213 ","pages":"Article 108439"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144862739","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"From marine sand to land and rivers: A combined phylogenomic strategy unveils the evolution of minute Acochlidimorpha slugs (Gastropoda: Heterobranchia)","authors":"Jose Fernández-Simón ,&nbsp;Katharina M. Jörger ,&nbsp;Bastian Brenzinger ,&nbsp;Michael Schrödl ,&nbsp;Nerida G. Wilson ,&nbsp;Timea P. Neusser ,&nbsp;Juan Moles","doi":"10.1016/j.ympev.2025.108443","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ympev.2025.108443","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The repeated colonisation of non-marine environments in panpulmonate molluscs represents a major evolutionary transition, yet many lineages remain poorly understood. Among gastropods, Acochlidimorpha stands out for its ecological and morphological diversity, originating in marine interstitial habitats before independently invading freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems. Here, we present the most complete phylogeny of Acochlidimorpha to date based on a global taxon sampling collected over several decades. We integrate ultra-conserved element (UCE) data from 58 museum-preserved specimens—comprising over 1,700 nuclear loci—with all publicly available Sanger-sequencing markers, totalling more than 150 specimens. This pioneering approach sets a new benchmark for phylogenomic studies in minute molluscan lineages. Our results resolve long-standing systematic ambiguities, reinstating <strong>Pontohedylidae stat. rest.</strong> and <strong>Strubelliidae stat. rest.</strong> and establishing <strong>Helicohedylidae fam. nov.</strong> Within Acochlidioidea, Strubelliidae is recovered as the sister to Pseudunelidae + (Tantulidae + Acochlidiidae). At the species level, we clarify the position of key taxa, including <em>Asperspina loricata</em> and two unidentified species of <em>Hedylopsis</em>. Ancestral habitat reconstruction analyses reveal at least four independent transitions to freshwater and terrestrial environments, highlighting the anatomical innovations facilitating these shifts, and further reinforcing the Indo-West Pacific as the centre of origin and diversification of most extant acochlids. Altogether, our study provides a robust evolutionary framework for Acochlidimorpha, offering new insights into the processes underlying terrestrialisation, morphological evolution, and ecological diversification in a lineage characterised by both extreme miniaturisation and evolutionary dynamism.</div><div>Zoobank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:264EB1DD-A0B1-4D30-94B3-8AEA2D41C34B.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56109,"journal":{"name":"Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution","volume":"213 ","pages":"Article 108443"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144857130","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Phylogenomic incongruence in Castanopsis (Fagaceae) is primarily caused by gene flow rather than incomplete lineage sorting","authors":"Shimei Tang ,&nbsp;Si Yin ,&nbsp;Yang Wu ,&nbsp;Ye Sun","doi":"10.1016/j.ympev.2025.108444","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ympev.2025.108444","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Reticulate evolution complicates phylogenetic reconstruction and obscures species delimitation. Investigating gene flow and its evolutionary consequences across the phylogenetic breadth of the genus provides critical insights into the mechanisms causing diversification within this lineage. By utilizing RAD-seq data from 39 <em>Castanopsis</em> species, we reconstructed phylogenetic relationships through both concatenation- and coalescent-based methods. To disentangle the contributions of gene flow and incomplete lineage sorting (ILS) to phylogenetic discordance, we employed an integrative approach combining topological analyses, polytomy tests, coalescent simulations, and phylogenetic network inference. Furthermore, we tracked the evolutionary trajectory of a key morphological trait across the genus. Despite pervasive gene tree incongruence, we recovered a well-supported species tree. Our analyses identified gene flow as the primary cause of phylogenomic discordance in <em>Castanopsis</em>, though the role of ILS could not be entirely ruled out. Ancient hybridization events along the phylogenetic backbone played a pivotal role in shaping the major clades of <em>Castanopsis</em>. The genus underwent an early rapid diversification during the Eocene, with speciation rates gradually declining thereafter. This study establishes a reliable phylogenetic framework for the examined <em>Castanopsis</em> species and demonstrates the utility of RAD-seq data in resolving complex evolutionary relationships. Our results provide novel insights into the diversification mechanisms of <em>Castanopsis</em> in China, emphasizing the profound impact of reticulate evolution on its evolutionary trajectory.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56109,"journal":{"name":"Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution","volume":"213 ","pages":"Article 108444"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144852569","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Species delimitation in the Eviota sigillata species complex, a widely distributed group of cryptobenthic coral reef fishes","authors":"Marta C. Gómez-Buckley ,&nbsp;Carmen del R Pedraza-Marrón ,&nbsp;Mark V. Erdmann ,&nbsp;Luke M. Tornabene","doi":"10.1016/j.ympev.2025.108426","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ympev.2025.108426","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cryptobenthic reef fishes (CRF), although the smallest vertebrates on coral reefs, account for approximately 40% of fish species and nearly 50% of fish abundance within these ecosystems. Their diversity can be attributed to their extremely limited dispersal abilities and short generation times, which promote allopatric speciation, along with their ability to partition microhabitats at a very fine scale. Notably, the small size, cryptic nature, and conserved morphology of some CRF groups have contributed to the presence of many undetected cryptic species, which may require a genome-wide species delimitation approach to discern how many species are present. In particular, the genus <em>Eviota</em> is one of the most species-rich groups, with 133 species described to date. It ranges from the Red Sea to Hawaii and French Polynesia and is known to comprise numerous cryptic species. Here, we conducted an integrative species delimitation study of the <em>Eviota sigillata</em> species complex, which includes two nominal species described based on morphological characters; however preliminary genetic data suggest the presence of multiple cryptic lineages. We used molecular data from mitochondrial DNA and genome-wide SNP data generated via double digest restriction site associated sequencing (ddRADseq), in combination with morphological data to infer the number of species in the <em>E. sigillata</em> species complex. Specifically, we estimated phylogenetic trees, conducted several types of single-locus and multilocus species delimitation analyses, and compared these to groupings based on morphology and geographic distribution. Collectively we found evidence for the presence of 9–13 lineages within the <em>E. sigillata</em> species complex, with genetic lineages corresponding well with the biogeographic history of the group. Our results support the existence of at least nine species. We further confirmed that the original morphological diagnostic characters used for the taxonomic identification of the two nominal species were not useful for distinguishing each of the nine clades in the complex, but may be helpful in diagnosing groups of closely-related species. Overall, our study sheds light onto the patterns of speciation within CRF and provides a glimpse of the tremendous hidden diversity that still remains to be discovered in coral reef fishes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56109,"journal":{"name":"Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution","volume":"213 ","pages":"Article 108426"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144755238","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Population dynamics and evolutionary history of the genus Sakesphorus (Aves: Thamnophilidae) in the Amazonian floodplains","authors":"Waleska Barbosa ,&nbsp;Romina Batista ,&nbsp;Eduardo D. Schultz ,&nbsp;Camila C. Ribas","doi":"10.1016/j.ympev.2025.108435","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ympev.2025.108435","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The genus <em>Sakesphorus</em> (Aves: Thamnophilidae) includes two species that are floodplain specialists within Amazonia. While <em>S. luctuosus</em> occupies floodplains of southeastern Amazonia and extends south along riparian habitats in central Brazil, <em>S. canadensis</em> occupies northern Amazonian floodplains and extends to other habitat types in northern South America, including mangroves, deciduous forests, and savannas. We reconstruct the historical diversification of the genus to investigate the landscape history of the Amazonian floodplains and their relationships with adjacent environments. We used reduced representation genomic data obtained with Ultra conserved Elements (UCE) probes and mtDNA from 26 <em>S. canadensis</em> and 30 <em>S. luctuosus</em> individuals. The phylogenetic analyses recovered each species as a well-supported clade. The split between the two species dates to 2.67 Ma (CI: 1.66–3.91), with a crown age of 620 Kya (CI: 0.37–0.91) for <em>S. canadensis</em> and 330 (CI: 0.2–0.49) Kya for <em>S. luctuosus</em>. <em>Sakesphorus canadensis</em> comprises three populations with low migration rates between them. Demographic expansion was unequivocal only for the Branco River population (<em>S. c. fumosus)</em>, suggesting an association with the evolution of the Branco River drainage. Pleistocene diversification of the genus corroborates the dynamism of the Amazonian fluvial system during this period, affecting connectivity along Amazonian floodplains and driving population differentiation. Connectivity with adjacent biomes through riparian corridors was important for the evolution of Amazonian floodplain biodiversity and should be protected.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56109,"journal":{"name":"Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution","volume":"213 ","pages":"Article 108435"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144852538","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sink or swim: Phylogenomic analysis of Baikal sculpins reveals multiple transformations to pelagic, bathybenthic, and lotic ecomorphologies","authors":"Michael W. Sandel ,&nbsp;Andres Aguilar ,&nbsp;Sergei Kirilchik ,&nbsp;David A. Neely ,&nbsp;Bakhtiar E. Bogdanov ,&nbsp;Kayla M. Fast ,&nbsp;Joshua D. Millwood","doi":"10.1016/j.ympev.2025.108451","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ympev.2025.108451","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Lake Baikal ranks among the world’s most species-rich freshwater ecosystems; however, the evolutionary histories of endemic taxa remain poorly understood. The unique abiotic environments of Lake Baikal include the only bathybenthic, bathypelagic, and deep hydrothermal vent communities in freshwater, each of which supports species with derived morphological and physiological traits. As the only known vertebrate radiation endemic to a non-tropical ancient lake, Baikal sculpins represent an underappreciated resource for investigating evolutionary processes that underlie adaptive radiation. We examined morphological and ecological diversity among Baikal sculpins and present the first interspecific phylogeny inferred from dense nuclear genomic sampling (ddRADseq). The new phylogeny supports a holarctic lotic ancestor to a limnetic radiation and reveals reticulate adaptations to lotic, bathyal, and pelagic habitats.</div><div>We apply the new phylogeny to revise Baikal sculpin taxonomy, and we resurrect <em>Uranidea</em> as a monotypic sister-group to the Baikal sculpin radiation. Our data support independent evolution of pelagic and bathypelagic ecomorphs and multiple invasions of aphotic habitats. Concordant ecomorphological shifts involved dramatic modification of skeletal elements, sensory systems, and reproductive mode. Habitat depth is highlighted as an important abiotic factor associated with adaptive radiation, but more research is needed to address potentially confounding effects of thermal and photic zonation. We discuss the geoclimatic processes that may explain this rapid radiation, and conclude by highlighting the anthropogenic changes that threaten this irreplaceable natural resource.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56109,"journal":{"name":"Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution","volume":"213 ","pages":"Article 108451"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144911663","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Hidden diversity in the driest desert on Earth: genomics unveils cryptic diversity in an ancient South American gecko lineage (Phyllodactylidae, Garthia)","authors":"Kamryn Carter ,&nbsp;Claudio Reyes-Olivares ,&nbsp;Jonathan Eubanks ,&nbsp;Hayden Hanna ,&nbsp;Stuart V. Nielsen ,&nbsp;Damien Esquerré","doi":"10.1016/j.ympev.2025.108448","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ympev.2025.108448","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Quantifying and delimiting biodiversity is a critical challenge in modern biology, particularly in taxa where species boundaries are unclear or poorly defined. In many cases, traditional morphological approaches are insufficient or even misleading when delimiting taxonomic units. Modern genomic methods offer a powerful tool to gain an in-depth perspective of evolutionary history and genetic variation across populations. The Chilean Marked Geckos (genus <em>Garthia</em>) currently comprise two species, <em>G. gaudichaudii</em> and <em>G. penai,</em> endemic to the semi-arid coastal regions of North-Central Chile. Although additional species/subspecies have been proposed, a recent study went so far as to suggest that just one species should be recognized. However, no study to date has evaluated their diversity using genetic tools. For the first time, we used phylogenomic and population genetic methods to better understand diversity across the entire distribution of <em>Garthia</em>. Using both mtDNA and nDNA data, we reconstruct the phylogeny, assess population structure, and delimit species. Our phylogenetic analyses reveal deep evolutionary divergence strongly supporting the existence of at least the two nominate species. However, our species delimitation and population structure analyses suggest alpha-level diversity could be even higher, with evidence supporting a cryptic species complex of between three and eleven species, including deep divergences between geographically proximate populations. We discuss the impact these findings have on our understanding of Chilean gecko diversity and biogeographic patterns in the world’s driest desert.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56109,"journal":{"name":"Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution","volume":"213 ","pages":"Article 108448"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144911664","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Target-enriched multilocus assay on poriferan museum collections unsettles tethyid classification","authors":"Dirk Erpenbeck ,&nbsp;Fabian Deister ,&nbsp;Merrick Ekins ,&nbsp;Nora Dotzler ,&nbsp;John N.A. Hooper ,&nbsp;Toufiek Samaai ,&nbsp;Simone Schätzle ,&nbsp;Joëlle van der Sprong ,&nbsp;Sergio Vargas ,&nbsp;Gert Wörheide","doi":"10.1016/j.ympev.2025.108436","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ympev.2025.108436","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Marine biodiversity collections are critical resources for understanding biodiversity and evolutionary patterns. However, their taxonomic utility is limited due to challenges in morphological identification and cryptic speciation, particularly in sponges (Porifera). This study applied a novel target-enriched multilocus assay to a decades-old unidentified collection of Tethyidae from the Queensland Museum. Target-specific baits were designed based on <em>Tethya</em> genome data, enabling the sequencing of nuclear ultraconserved elements (UCEs) and mitochondrial genomes, even from degraded samples. In the study, 40 specimens were sequenced, and we found up to 4,440 UCEs per sample. The phylogenies were based on up to 2,788 loci and demonstrated overall high bootstrap support. Results include robust support for earlier findings on the non-monophyly of <em>Tethya</em>, with lineages linking to other genera (e.g., <em>Stellitethya</em>, <em>Tethycometes</em>), suggesting that <em>Tethya</em> is a paraphyletic group foundational to Tethyidae. Morphological subgroupings, previously hypothesized, were validated genetically, though several novel relationships emerged. This approach highlights the suitability of target-enriched multilocus assays for archival collections, enabling detailed biodiversity assessments using collection material initially not sampled for molecular work. Our <em>Tethya</em> case study underlines that this methodology provides a framework for broader applications in marine biodiversity conservation, facilitating the understanding and preservation of past and present biodiversity to guide future efforts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56109,"journal":{"name":"Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution","volume":"213 ","pages":"Article 108436"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144859935","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Desert ecosystems shape diversification in glossy snakes (genus Arizona) requiring a re-alignment of evolutionary and conservation units","authors":"Dustin A. Wood ,&nbsp;Jonathan Q. Richmond ,&nbsp;Michael F. Westphal ,&nbsp;Bradford D. Hollingsworth ,&nbsp;Robert N. Fisher ,&nbsp;Amy G. Vandergast","doi":"10.1016/j.ympev.2025.108441","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ympev.2025.108441","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Subspecies are often targets for conservation, yet many lack the genetic data necessary to validate their status as distinctive evolutionary lineages. In 2016, conservationists faced this issue when designating the California glossy snake, <em>Arizona elegans occidentalis</em>, as a Species of Special Concern in California, a decision prompted by population declines and habitat loss but absent of genetic information about its evolutionary integrity. To address this knowledge gap, we collected genomic and mitochondrial data from a rangewide sample of the <em>Arizona elegans</em> complex (<em>n</em> = 257) and characterized genetic structure at varying spatial scales. We confirmed an east–west phyletic division within the <em>A. elegans</em> complex that correlates with an ecotone between the Sonoran and Chihuahuan Deserts and pinpoint the separation to a ∼20 km area in southeastern Arizona, USA. Individuals recognized as <em>A. e. occidentalis</em> do not form a genetically cohesive unit within a more inclusive western clade that is sister to the endemic <em>Arizona pacata</em> in Baja California, México. We synonymize four subspecies circumscribed by the western clade and recognize a new species <em>Arizona occidentalis</em> to re-align the taxonomy with the phylogeographic structure. Most of the diversity within <em>A. occidentalis</em> occurs in California, with three major lineages corresponding separate desert biomes. We revise the conservation units within <em>A. occidentalis</em> to mirror these lineages and address concerns regarding habitat loss in transitional environments along the western edge of its range. This work underscores the importance of aligning taxonomy, evolutionary identity, and management units to design the most effective conservation strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56109,"journal":{"name":"Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution","volume":"213 ","pages":"Article 108441"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144859933","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Geographic isolation, ecological adaptation, and hybridization influenced fast divergence of a Solanaceae plant group from subtropical highland grasslands","authors":"Luana S. Soares ,&nbsp;Aureliano Bombarely ,&nbsp;Loreta B. Freitas","doi":"10.1016/j.ympev.2025.108446","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ympev.2025.108446","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Several processes influence species establishment in nature, with evolutionary radiations playing a critical role in biodiversity evolution. Ecological adaptation, progenitor-derivative speciation, pollinator shifts, and geographic isolation followed by local adaptation can lead to plant radiations in montane systems. This study investigated the rapid divergence and migration of highland <em>Petunia</em> species. Employing reduced representation genome sequencing and a genomic population approach, we focused on detecting structuration, ecological inference, hybridization/introgression, and evolutionary patterns. Our findings revealed an intricate and complex array of factors, including ecological adaptation without marked genetic diversity, hybridization, and geographic isolation, which led to species divergence in a short period. Ancestral polymorphism sharing maintained genetic diversity could facilitate rapid divergence among the highland species by providing variation to natural selection. During the Pleistocene, <em>Petunia</em> species expanded and contracted their ranges in response to the alternance of climate cycles. This period of environmental changes was pivotal in promoting rapid speciation through geographic isolation. Here, we highlight the multifaceted nature of species diversification, influenced by a confluence of geographic distribution, demographic history, and hybridization. The interplay of these factors highlights the diverse and dynamic pathways to speciation in a model plant genus, thereby contributing to a deeper understanding of species diversification and the role of genetic and environmental factors in shaping biodiversity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56109,"journal":{"name":"Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution","volume":"213 ","pages":"Article 108446"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144863498","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}