Contrasting patterns of Andean diversification among three diverse clades of Neotropical clearwing butterflies

Abstract

The Neotropical region is the most biodiverse on Earth, in a large part due to the highly diverse tropical Andean biota. The Andes are a potentially important driver of diversification within the mountains and for neighboring regions. We compared the role of the Andes in diversification among three subtribes of Ithomiini butterflies endemic to the Neotropics, Dircennina, Oleriina, and Godyridina. The diversification patterns of Godyridina have been studied previously. Here, we generate the first time‐calibrated phylogeny for the largest ithomiine subtribe, Dircennina, and we reanalyze a published phylogeny of Oleriina to test different biogeographic scenarios involving the Andes within an identical framework. We found common diversification patterns across the three subtribes, as well as major differences. In Dircennina and Oleriina, our results reveal a congruent pattern of diversification related to the Andes with an Andean origin, which contrasts with the Amazonian origin and multiple Andean colonizations of Godyridina. In each of the three subtribes, a clade diversified in the Northern Andes at a faster rate. Diversification within Amazonia occurred in Oleriina and Godyridina, while virtually no speciation occurred in Dircennina in this region. Dircennina was therefore characterized by higher diversification rates within the Andes compared to non‐Andean regions, while in Oleriina and Godyridina, we found no difference between these regions. Our results and discussion highlight the importance of comparative approaches in biogeographic studies.

Renewed diversification following Miocene landscape turnover in a Neotropical butterfly radiation

“…The lack of support for a general increase in diversification rate in the Andes within the core group is also supported by analyses performed independently on different core group subtribes. For example, in both Oleriina (Chazot et al, ) and Godyridina (Chazot, Willmott, Condamine, et al, ), radiations occurred in both Andean and Amazonian genera.…”

“…We compiled sequences of 1,474 Ithomiini individuals (see Supporting Information Appendix S1.1) that included 718 sequences newly generated for this study and 3,147 previously published sequences (Brower et al, ; Chazot et al, , ; Chazot, Willmott, Condamine, et al, ; De‐Silva et al, , , ; Elias et al, ; Mallarino et al, ; Whinnett, Brower, Lee, Willmott, & Mallet, ). We used a concatenation of nine gene fragments, a mitochondrial fragment spanning genes COI‐tRNA‐COII , and fragments of nuclear genes EFIα , Tektin , CAD , RPS2 , MDH and GAPDH , representing a total of 7,083 bp (Wahlberg & Wheat, ).…”

“…The lack of support for a general increase in diversification rate in the Andes within the core group is also supported by analyses performed independently on different core group subtribes. For example, in both Oleriina (Chazot et al, 2018) and Godyridina (Chazot, Willmott, Condamine, et al, 2016), radiations occurred in both Andean and Amazonian genera. Gentry (1982) pointed out a dichotomy observed in the geographical distribution of Neotropical plant diversity, showing that groups could be divided into Andean-centred versus Amazonian-centred patterns.…”

An exploration of the complex biogeographical history of the Neotropical banner-wing damselflies (Odonata: Polythoridae)

“…In a number of groups (tropical frogs [5,6], butterflies [7,8], lupines[9], birds[10]) this changing geography has driven substantial-sometimes rapid-diversification, but not always in the same way.…”

“…Shifting continents, multiple instances of mountain building, rivers that 3 change their course, and the expansion and retreat of both freshwater and marine habitats all come together to make a complicated and dynamic foundation on which biological diversity has developed over the last 50 million years (Ma). These include the uplift of the different regions of the Andes, as well as the Venezuelan Highlands, the formation of the extensive Amazonian flood basin in the Miocene (Pre-Pebas, Pebas and Acre), the further development of the Amazon and Orinoco drainages, the dry/wet climate cycles of the Pliocene/Pleistocene, and the formation of the Panamanian Land Bridge between the Tumbes-Chocó-Magdalena regions and Central America [2][3][4].In a number of groups (tropical frogs [5,6], butterflies [7,8], lupines[9], birds[10]) this changing geography has driven substantial-sometimes rapid-diversification, but not always in the same way.The diversification driven by these geographic changes often promotes niche diversification, with species taking advantage of the distinct ecological niches found in each local environment. This leads to adaptive speciation [11], further increasing diversity beyond the form of the landscape.…”