A large-scale phylogeny of Synodontis (Mochokidae, Siluriformes) reveals the influence of geological events on continental diversity during the Cenozoic

Pinton, Aurélie; Agnèse, Jean‐François; Paugy, Didier; Otero, Olga

doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2012.12.009

Cited by 37 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…() and Pinton et al. (), who postulate that a linkage of paleohydrological changes in a geological context has been a major cause of diversification of the freshwater teleost fauna in East Africa. Particularly, the East African Rift system and associated historical events appear as strong drivers of freshwater diversification and evolution.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…East African freshwater systems possess a diverse teleost fauna shaped by a complex geological history, including large-scale tectonic movements, volcanic activity, and significant uplifting (Danley et al, 2012;Sturmbauer, Baric, Salzburger, Rüber, & Verheyen, 2001;Verheyen, Salzburger, Snoeks, & Meyer, 2003). The East African Rift (EAR) Valley, which was formed by tectonic uplift, is the major geological structure that has forged the general hydrographical network in Africa (Giddelo, Arndt, & Volckaert, 2002;Pinton, Agnèse, Paugy, & Otero, 2013) and created various freshwater habitats. For instance, major continental river systems were particularly impacted by the regional uplift, including the Nile, Congo, and Zambezi Rivers (Baker & Wohlenberg, 1971;Roberts et al, 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Populations genetically rifting within a complex geological system: The case of strong structure and low genetic diversity in the migratory freshwater catfish,Bagrus docmak,in East Africa

Basiita

Zenger

Jerry

2017

Ecology and Evolution

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The complex geological history of East Africa has been a driving factor in the rapid evolution of teleost biodiversity. While there is some understanding of how macroevolutionary drivers have shaped teleost speciation in East Africa, there is a paucity of research into how the same biogeographical factors have affected microevolutionary processes within lakes and rivers. To address this deficiency, population genetic diversity, demography, and structure were investigated in a widely distributed and migratory (potamodromous) African teleost species, Ssemutundu (Bagrus docmak). Samples were acquired from five geographical locations in East Africa within two major drainage basins; the Albertine Rift and Lake Victoria Basin. Individuals (N = 175) were genotyped at 12 microsatellite loci and 93 individuals sequenced at the mitochondrial DNA control region. Results suggested populations from Lakes Edward and Victoria had undergone a severe historic bottleneck resulting in very low nucleotide diversity (π = 0.004 and 0.006, respectively) and negatively significant Fu values (−3.769 and −5.049; p < .05). Heterozygosity deficiencies and restricted effective population size (N eLD) suggested contemporary exposure of these populations to stress, consistent with reports of the species decline in the East African Region. High genetic structuring between drainages was detected at both historical (ɸST = 0.62 for mtDNA; p < .001) and contemporary (microsatellite F ST = 0.460; p < .001) levels. Patterns of low genetic diversity and strong population structure revealed are consistent with speciation patterns that have been linked to the complex biogeography of East Africa, suggesting that these biogeographical features have operated as both macro‐ and micro‐evolutionary forces in the formation of the East African teleost fauna.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Populations genetically rifting within a complex geological system: The case of strong structure and low genetic diversity in the migratory freshwater catfish,Bagrus docmak,in East Africa

Basiita

Zenger

Jerry

2017

Ecology and Evolution

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“…Given the results of contemporary gene flow across the Sanaga River, an isolation by river scenario for these lineages is only feasible if major historical changes occurred in course or flow of the Sanaga River surrounding the early Pleistocene divergence time between the lineages. A combination of evidence from offshore fluvial paleodrainage systems (Ngueutchoua & Giresse, ) and divergence‐dating estimates of endemic freshwater fishes (Day et al., ; Goodier, Cotterill, O'Ryan, Skelton, & de Wit, ; Pinton, Agnèse, Paugy, & Otero, ) indicates that recent changes in the course of the Sanaga are unlikely, and therefore the initial isolation of A. p. paradorsalis populations is better explained by shifts in forest cover that occurred in this time period (Anhuf et al., ; Cowling et al., ; Maley, ; deMenocal, ). Our results parallel those of the sympatric Gaboon Forest Frog ( Scotobleps gabonicus ), including temporal overlap in the forest‐refugia‐driven divergence of the northern and southern populations across these species ( A. p. paradorsalis : 2.22 Ma, 1.53–2.99 Ma 95%HPD; S. gabonicus : 2.97 Ma, 2.61–3.34 Ma 95% HPD; Portik et al., ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sky, sea, and forest islands: Diversification in the African leaf‐folding frog Afrixalus paradorsalis (Anura: Hyperoliidae) of the Lower Guineo‐Congolian rain forest

Charles

Bell

Blackburn

et al. 2018

Journal of Biogeography

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Aim To investigate how putative barriers, forest refugia, and ecological gradients across the lower Guineo‐Congolian rain forest shape genetic and phenotypic divergence in the leaf‐folding frog Afrixalus paradorsalis, and examine the role of adjacent land bridge and sky‐islands in diversification. Location The Lower Guineo‐Congolian Forest, the Cameroonian Volcanic Line (CVL), and Bioko Island, Central Africa. Taxon Afrixalus paradorsalis (Family: Hyperoliidae), an African leaf‐folding frog. Methods We used molecular and phenotypic data to investigate diversity and divergence among the A. paradorsalis species complex distributed across lowland rain forests, a land bridge island, and mountains in Central Africa. We examined the coincidence of population boundaries, landscape features, divergence times, and spatial patterns of connectivity and diversity, and subsequently performed demographic modelling using genome‐wide SNP variation to distinguish among divergence mechanisms in mainland (riverine barriers, forest refugia, ecological gradients) and land bridge island populations (vicariance, overwater dispersal). Results We detected four genetically distinct allopatric populations corresponding to Bioko Island, the CVL, and two lowland rain forest populations split by the Sanaga River. Although lowland populations are phenotypically indistinguishable, pronounced body size evolution occurs at high elevation, and the timing of the formation of the high elevation population coincides with mountain uplift in the CVL. Spatial analyses and demographic modelling revealed population divergence across mainland Lower Guinea is best explained by forest refugia rather than riverine barriers or ecological gradients, and that the Bioko Island population divergence is best explained by vicariance (marine incursion) rather than overseas dispersal. Main conclusions We provide growing support for the important role of forest refugia in driving intraspecific divergences in the Guineo‐Congolian rain forest. In A. paradorsalis, sky‐islands in the CVL have resulted in greater genetic and phenotypic divergences than marine incursions of the land bridge Bioko Island, highlighting important differences in patterns of island‐driven diversification in Lower Guinea.

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“…[31,50,52,53]. In contrast, the sister-taxon relationship between viviparids from the Lake Victoria region and those from the Okavango/Upper Zambezi is to date unique among the afrotropical freshwater fauna.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Disjunct distributions of freshwater snails testify to a central role of the Congo system in shaping biogeographical patterns in Africa

et al. 2014

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BackgroundThe formation of the East African Rift System has decisively influenced the distribution and evolution of tropical Africa’s biota by altering climate conditions, by creating basins for large long-lived lakes, and by affecting the catchment and drainage directions of river systems. However, it remains unclear how rifting affected the biogeographical patterns of freshwater biota through time on a continental scale, which is further complicated by the scarcity of molecular data from the largest African river system, the Congo.ResultsWe study these biogeographical patterns using a fossil-calibrated multi-locus phylogeny of the gastropod family Viviparidae. This group allows reconstructing drainage patterns exceptionally well because it disperses very poorly in the absence of existing freshwater connections. Our phylogeny covers localities from major drainage basins of tropical Africa and reveals highly disjunct sister-group relationships between (a) the endemic viviparids of Lake Malawi and populations from the Middle Congo as well as between (b) the Victoria region and the Okavango/Upper Zambezi area.ConclusionsThe current study testifies to repeated disruptions of the distribution of the Viviparidae during the formation of the East African Rift System, and to a central role of the Congo River system for the distribution of the continent’s freshwater fauna during the late Cenozoic. By integrating our results with previous findings on palaeohydrographical connections, we provide a spatially and temporarily explicit model of historical freshwater biogeography in tropical Africa. Finally, we review similarities and differences in patterns of vertebrate and invertebrate dispersal. Amongst others we argue that the closest relatives of present day viviparids in Lake Malawi are living in the Middle Congo River, thus shedding new light on the origin of the endemic fauna of this rift lake.

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A large-scale phylogeny of Synodontis (Mochokidae, Siluriformes) reveals the influence of geological events on continental diversity during the Cenozoic

Cited by 37 publications

References 47 publications

Populations genetically rifting within a complex geological system: The case of strong structure and low genetic diversity in the migratory freshwater catfish,Bagrus docmak,in East Africa

Populations genetically rifting within a complex geological system: The case of strong structure and low genetic diversity in the migratory freshwater catfish,Bagrus docmak,in East Africa

Sky, sea, and forest islands: Diversification in the African leaf‐folding frog Afrixalus paradorsalis (Anura: Hyperoliidae) of the Lower Guineo‐Congolian rain forest

Disjunct distributions of freshwater snails testify to a central role of the Congo system in shaping biogeographical patterns in Africa

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