Renata Filipa Ribeiro Martins, Jörns Fickel, Minh Le, Thanh van Nguyen, Ha M. Nguyen, Robert Timmins, Han Ming Gan, Jeffrine J. Rovie-Ryan, Dorina Lenz, Daniel W. Förster, Andreas Wilting
- Background
The members of the genus Muntiacus are of particular interest to evolutionary biologists due to their extreme chromosomal rearrangements and the ongoing discussions about the number of living species. Red muntjacs have the largest distribution of all muntjacs and were formerly considered as one species. Karyotype differences led to the provisional split between the Southern Red Muntjac (Muntiacus muntjak) and the Northern Red Muntjac (M. vaginalis), but uncertainties remain as, so far, no phylogenetic study has been conducted. Here, we analysed whole mitochondrial genomes of 59 archival and 16 contemporaneous samples to resolve uncertainties about their taxonomy and used red muntjacs as model for understanding the evolutionary history of other species in Southeast Asia.
Results
We found three distinct matrilineal groups of red muntjacs: Sri Lankan red muntjacs (including the Western Ghats) diverged first from other muntjacs about 1.5 Mya; later northern red muntjacs (including North India and Indochina) andBackground
The members of the genus Muntiacus are of particular interest to evolutionary biologists due to their extreme chromosomal rearrangements and the ongoing discussions about the number of living species. Red muntjacs have the largest distribution of all muntjacs and were formerly considered as one species. Karyotype differences led to the provisional split between the Southern Red Muntjac (Muntiacus muntjak) and the Northern Red Muntjac (M. vaginalis), but uncertainties remain as, so far, no phylogenetic study has been conducted. Here, we analysed whole mitochondrial genomes of 59 archival and 16 contemporaneous samples to resolve uncertainties about their taxonomy and used red muntjacs as model for understanding the evolutionary history of other species in Southeast Asia.
Results
We found three distinct matrilineal groups of red muntjacs: Sri Lankan red muntjacs (including the Western Ghats) diverged first from other muntjacs about 1.5 Mya; later northern red muntjacs (including North India and Indochina) and southern red muntjacs (Sundaland) split around 1.12 Mya. The diversification of red muntjacs into these three main lineages was likely promoted by two Pleistocene barriers: one through the Indian subcontinent and one separating the Indochinese and Sundaic red muntjacs. Interestingly, we found a high level of gene flow within the populations of northern and southern red muntjacs, indicating gene flow between populations in Indochina and dispersal of red muntjacs over the exposed Sunda Shelf during the Last Glacial Maximum.
Conclusions
Our results provide new insights into the evolution of species in South and Southeast Asia as we found clear genetic differentiation in a widespread and generalist species, corresponding to two known biogeographical barriers: The Isthmus of Kra and the central Indian dry zone. In addition, our molecular data support either the delineation of three monotypic species or three subspecies, but more importantly these data highlight the conservation importance of the Sri Lankan/South Indian red muntjac.…
MetadatenAuthor details: | Renata Filipa Ribeiro MartinsORCiDGND, Jörns FickelORCiDGND, Minh Le, Thanh van Nguyen, Ha M. Nguyen, Robert Timmins, Han Ming GanORCiD, Jeffrine J. Rovie-RyanORCiD, Dorina Lenz, Daniel W. FörsterORCiD, Andreas WiltingORCiDGND |
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URN: | urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-430780 |
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DOI: | https://doi.org/10.25932/publishup-43078 |
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ISSN: | 1866-8372 |
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Title of parent work (German): | Postprints der Universität Potsdam : Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe |
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Publication series (Volume number): | Zweitveröffentlichungen der Universität Potsdam : Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe (973) |
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Publication type: | Postprint |
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Language: | English |
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Date of first publication: | 2020/08/17 |
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Publication year: | 2017 |
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Publishing institution: | Universität Potsdam |
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Release date: | 2020/08/17 |
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Tag: | Muntjac; Southeast Asia; archival DNA; phylogeography; species complex |
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Issue: | 973 |
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Number of pages: | 14 |
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Source: | BMC Evolutionary Biology 17 (2017) Art. 34 DOI:10.1186/s12862-017-0888-0 |
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Organizational units: | Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Fakultät |
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DDC classification: | 5 Naturwissenschaften und Mathematik / 57 Biowissenschaften; Biologie / 570 Biowissenschaften; Biologie |
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| 6 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften / 61 Medizin und Gesundheit / 610 Medizin und Gesundheit |
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Peer review: | Referiert |
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Publishing method: | Open Access / Green Open-Access |
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License (German): | CC-BY - Namensnennung 4.0 International |
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External remark: | Bibliographieeintrag der Originalveröffentlichung/Quelle |
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