scholarly journals Into the tropics: phylogenomics and evolutionary dynamics of a contrarian clade of ants

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael G. Branstetter ◽  
John T. Longino ◽  
Joaquín Reyes-López ◽  
Ted R. Schultz ◽  
Seán G. Brady
Keyword(s):  
Temperate Zone ◽  
Diversification Rate ◽  
Niche Conservatism ◽  
Diversity Pattern ◽  
Latitudinal Diversity Gradient ◽  
Biogeographic History ◽  
Diversity Gradient ◽  
Extant Species ◽  
Climatic Optimum ◽  
The Tropics

Aim.The standard latitudinal diversity gradient (LDG), in which species richness decreases from equator to pole, is a pervasive pattern observed in most groups of organisms. Despite its commonness, an increasing number of non-conforming lineages have been identified, presenting a challenge for general explanations of the standard LDG. Although problematic, documenting and studying these contrarian groups can help us to better understand LDGs generally. To that end we identify the ant tribe Stenammini, a diverse lineage with over 400 species, as a contrarian clade, and we attempt to explain the group's atypical diversity pattern using a historical approach. We evaluate the following alternative hypotheses: time-for-speciation/center-of-origin (TFS/COO), niche conservatism, and differences in diversification rate.Location.Global.Methods.We examine the shape of the LDG in Stenammini by plotting latitudinal midpoints for all extant species. We then infer a robust phylogeny using a phylogenomic approach that employs ultraconserved element loci and we use the phylogeny to estimate divergence dates, biogeographic history, and ancestral habitats. We also test for diversification rate heterogeneity across the tree and among lineages within the tribe.Results.Stenammini has a skewed inverse latitudinal diversity gradient with an extratropical richness peak in the northern temperate zone. Our phylogenomic approach resulted in a robust phylogeny revealing five major clades and several instances of non-monophyly among genera (Goniomma,Aphaenogaster). The tribe and most major lineages originated in the temperate zone and inhabited temperate niches. Crown Stenammini dates to 52 Ma (Eocene Climatic Optimum) and most major lineages appeared soon after during a period of global cooling. Despite its temperate origin, the group invaded the tropics at least six times, but failed to diversify greatly there. Across the tree diversification increased from 17.2-1.9 Ma following the Mid-Miocene Climatic Optimum, and among lineages there was a rate increase in HolarcticAphaenogaster+Messorjust prior to 17.2 Ma.Main Conclusions.Our results suggest that time, niche conservatism, and increased diversification have all contributed to the inverse latitudinal gradient in Stenammini. Among these processes, niche conservatism may be less important given that the tribe has dispersed to the tropics multiple times.

scholarly journals The latitudinal diversity gradient in New World swallowtail butterflies is caused by contrasting patterns of out-of- and into-the-tropics dispersal

2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (12) ◽  
pp. 1447-1458 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannah L. Owens ◽  
Delano S. Lewis ◽  
Julian R. Dupuis ◽  
Anne-Laure Clamens ◽  
Felix A. H. Sperling ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New World ◽  
Latitudinal Diversity Gradient ◽  
Diversity Gradient ◽  
Swallowtail Butterflies ◽  
The Tropics

scholarly journals Macroevolutionary thermodynamics: Temperature and the tempo of evolution in the tropics

PLoS Biology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (8) ◽  
pp. e3001368
Author(s):  
Daniel L. Rabosky
Keyword(s):  
Latitudinal Diversity Gradient ◽  
Diversity Gradient ◽  
The Tropics

An influential hypothesis proposes that the tempo of evolution is faster in the tropics. Emerging evidence, including a study in this issue of PLOS Biology, challenges this view, raising new questions about the causes of Earth’s iconic latitudinal diversity gradient (LDG).

scholarly journals Tempo and mode of morphological evolution are decoupled from latitude in birds

PLoS Biology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (8) ◽  
pp. e3001270
Author(s):  
Jonathan P. Drury ◽  
Julien Clavel ◽  
Joseph A. Tobias ◽  
Jonathan Rolland ◽  
Catherine Sheard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Interactions ◽  
Morphological Evolution ◽  
Phenotypic Evolution ◽  
Trait Evolution ◽  
Trait Divergence ◽  
Latitudinal Diversity Gradient ◽  
Diversity Gradient ◽  
The Tropics ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Phylogenetic Models

The latitudinal diversity gradient is one of the most striking patterns in nature, yet its implications for morphological evolution are poorly understood. In particular, it has been proposed that an increased intensity of species interactions in tropical biota may either promote or constrain trait evolution, but which of these outcomes predominates remains uncertain. Here, we develop tools for fitting phylogenetic models of phenotypic evolution in which the impact of species interactions—namely, competition—can vary across lineages. Deploying these models on a global avian trait dataset to explore differences in trait divergence between tropical and temperate lineages, we find that the effect of latitude on the mode and tempo of morphological evolution is weak and clade- or trait dependent. Our results indicate that species interactions do not disproportionately impact morphological evolution in tropical bird families and question the validity of previously reported patterns of slower trait evolution in the tropics.

scholarly journals Post-Eocene climate change, niche conservatism, and the latitudinal diversity gradient of New World birds

2006 ◽  
Vol 33 (5) ◽  
pp. 770-780 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bradford A. Hawkins ◽  
Jose Alexandre Felizola Diniz-Filho ◽  
Carlos A. Jaramillo ◽  
Stephen A. Soeller
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
New World ◽  
Niche Conservatism ◽  
Latitudinal Diversity Gradient ◽  
Diversity Gradient ◽  
New World Birds

Out of the Tropics: Evolutionary Dynamics of the Latitudinal Diversity Gradient

Science ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 314 (5796) ◽  
pp. 102-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Jablonski ◽  
K. Roy ◽  
J. W. Valentine
Keyword(s):  
Evolutionary Dynamics ◽  
Latitudinal Diversity Gradient ◽  
Diversity Gradient ◽  
The Tropics

scholarly journals Evolution of the latitudinal diversity gradient in the hyperdiverse ant genus Pheidole

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evan P. Economo ◽  
Jen-Pan Huang ◽  
Georg Fischer ◽  
Eli M. Sarnat ◽  
Nitish Narula ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Statistical Power ◽  
Diversification Rate ◽  
Latitudinal Diversity Gradient ◽  
Diversity Gradient ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Large Trees ◽  
In Series ◽  
Latitudinal Patterns ◽  
Dated Phylogeny ◽  
Life On Earth

ABSTRACTAimThe latitudinal diversity gradient is the dominant pattern of life on Earth, but a consensus understanding of its origins has remained elusive. The analysis of recently diverged, hyper-rich invertebrate groups provides an opportunity to investigate latitudinal patterns with the statistical power of large trees while minimizing potentially confounding variation in ecology and history. Here, we synthesize global phylogenetic and macroecological data on a hyperdiverse (>1100 species) ant radiation, Pheidole, and evaluate the roles of three general explanations for the latitudinal gradient: variation in diversification rate, tropical conservatism, and ecological regulation.LocationGlobal.Time PeriodThe past 35 million years.Major taxa studiedThe hyperdiverse ant genus Pheidole Westwood.MethodsWe assembled geographic data for 1499 species and morphospecies, and inferred a dated phylogeny of Pheidole of 449 species, including 150 species newly sequenced for this study. We tested correlations between diversification rate and latitude with BAMM, HiSSE, GeoSSE, and FiSSE, and examined patterns of diversification as Pheidole spread around the globe.ResultsWe found that Pheidole diversification occurred in series of bursts when new continents were colonized, followed by a slowdown in each region. There was no evidence of systematic variation of net diversification rates with latitude across any of the methods. Additionally, we found latitudinal affinity is moderately conserved with a Neotropical ancestor and phylogenetic inertia alone is sufficient to produce the gradient pattern.Main ConclusionsOverall our results are consistent with tropical conservatism explaining the diversity gradient, while providing no evidence that diversification rate varies systematically with latitude. There is evidence of ecological regulation on continental scales through the pattern of diversification after colonization. These results shed light on the mechanisms underlying the diversity gradient, while contributing toward a much-needed invertebrate perspective on global biodiversity dynamics.

scholarly journals Morphological disparity opposes latitudinal diversity gradient in lacertid lizards

2014 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 20140101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christy A. Hipsley ◽  
Donald B. Miles ◽  
Johannes Müller
Keyword(s):  
Shape Change ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Morphological Differentiation ◽  
Taxonomic Diversity ◽  
Phenotypic Evolution ◽  
Morphological Disparity ◽  
Latitudinal Diversity Gradient ◽  
Diversity Gradient ◽  
Lineage Accumulation ◽  
The Tropics

While global variation in taxonomic diversity is strongly linked to latitude, the extent to which morphological disparity follows geographical gradients is less well known. We estimated patterns of lineage diversification, morphological disparity and rates of phenotypic evolution in the Old World lizard family Lacertidae, which displays a nearly inverse latitudinal diversity gradient with decreasing species richness towards the tropics. We found that lacertids exhibit relatively constant rates of lineage accumulation over time, although the majority of morphological variation appears to have originated during recent divergence events, resulting in increased partitioning of disparity within subclades. Among subclades, tropical arboreal taxa exhibited the fastest rates of shape change while temperate European taxa were the slowest, resulting in an inverse relationship between latitudinal diversity and rates of phenotypic evolution. This pattern demonstrates a compelling counterexample to the ecological opportunity theory of diversification, suggesting an uncoupling of the processes generating species diversity and morphological differentiation across spatial scales.

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