Diversification of clearwing butterflies with the rise of the Andes

Abstract

AimDespite the greatest butterfly diversity on Earth occurring in the Neotropical Andes and Amazonia, there is still keen debate about the origins of this exceptional biota. A densely sampled calibrated phylogeny for a widespread butterfly subtribe, Oleriina (Nymphalidae: Ithomiini) was used to estimate the origin, colonization history and diversification of this species‐rich group.LocationNeotropics.MethodsAncestral elevation and biogeographical ranges were reconstructed using data generated from detailed range maps and applying the dispersal‐extinction‐cladogenesis model using stratified palaeogeographical time slice matrices. The pattern of diversification through time was examined by comparing constant and variable rate models. We also tested the hypothesis that a change in elevation is associated with speciation.ResultsThe Oleriina likely originated in the Andes in the Early to Middle Miocene and rapidly diversified to include four genera all of which also originated in the Andes. These clades, together with four species groups, experienced varying spatial and temporal patterns of diversification. An overall early burst and decreasing diversification rate is identified, and this pattern is reflected for most subclades.Main conclusionsChanges in the palaeogeological landscape, particularly the prolonged uplift of the Andes, had a profound impact on the diversification of the subtribe. The Oleriina mostly remained within the Andes and vicariant speciation resulted in some instances. Dynamic dispersal occurred with the disappearance of geological barriers such as the Acre System and the subtribe exploited newly available habitats. Our results confirm the role of the Andean uplift in the evolution of Neotropical biodiversity.

Patterns of Species, Phylogenetic and Mimicry Diversity of Clearwing Butterflies in the Neotropics

“…The diversifi cation histories across geographical areas also account for patterns of diversity of different organisms. In the case of ithomiine butterfl ies, previous studies found that Napeogenes , Ithomia and Oleria likely originated in the northern Andes and subsequently diversifi ed throughout both the Andes and the rest of the Neotropics (Elias et al 2009 ;de-Silva et al 2015 ;de-Silva et al 2010 ). Shifts of altitudinal range and colour pattern are also correlated (Chazot et al 2014 ) and are involved in speciation events (Jiggins et al 2006 ;Elias et al 2009 ), and may likely have increased speciation rate in montane regions.…”

“…The fi rst is that conservation strategies based on phylogenetic measures capture more evolutionary diversity than strategies ignoring phylogeny (e.g., Hartmann and Steel 2007 ;Redding et al 2008 ), and the second is that extinctions are not random in the tree of life, but rather are phylogenetically and functionally clumped (Purvis et al 2000 ;Yessoufou et al 2012 ). In the last few years several phylogenies have become available for the Ithomiini as a whole (Brower et al 2014 ;Willmott and Freitas 2006 ), and also for some speciose clades inside this tribe (Mallarino et al 2005 ;Elias et al 2009 ;de-Silva et al 2015 ). This phylogenetic information thus allows us to consider phylogenetic diversity in an assessment of conservation priorities for Neotropical insects.…”

Biodiversity Conservation and Phylogenetic Systematics

“…In this chapter we focus on three ithomiine genera ( -Silva et al 2015 ;de-Silva et al 2010 ). We analyse the three genera independently to assess the congruence of geographical diversity patterns among genera.…”

“…The fi rst is that conservation strategies based on phylogenetic measures capture more evolutionary diversity than strategies ignoring phylogeny (e.g., , and the second is that extinctions are not random in the tree of life, but rather are phylogenetically and functionally clumped Yessoufou et al 2012 ). In the last few years several phylogenies have become available for the Ithomiini as a whole (Brower et al 2014 ;Willmott and Freitas 2006 ), and also for some speciose clades inside this tribe (Mallarino et al 2005 ;Elias et al 2009 ;de-Silva et al 2015 ). This phylogenetic information thus allows us to consider phylogenetic diversity in an assessment of conservation priorities for Neotropical insects.…”

North Andean origin and diversification of the largest ithomiine butterfly genus

“…The Neotropical region is the most biologically diverse area on Earth for most organisms and numerous studies have identified the world’s longest mountain range, the Andes, as a major centre of biodiversity1 and source for adjacent areas in groups as diverse as birds2, reptiles3, insects456 and plants78. The Andes have been proposed as a major driver of diversification9.…”