Effect of Pleistocene Climatic Oscillations on the Phylogeography and Demography of Red Knobby Newt (Tylototriton shanjing) from Southwestern China

Abstract

Factors that determine the genetic structure of species in southwestern China remain largely unknown. In this study, phylogeography and demography of Tylototriton shanjing was investigated from a mitochondrial perspective to address the role of the Quaternary ice ages in shaping phylogeographic history and genetic diversity of Yunnan. A total of 146 individuals from 19 populations across the entire range of the species were collected. We detected four maternal phylogenetic lineages corresponding to four population groups, and found that major glaciation events during the Pleistocene have triggered the intra-specific divergence. Coalescent simulations indicated that the populations retreated to different refugia located in southern Yunnan, northwestern Yunnan, the border region of western Yunnan with Myanmar, and middle-western Yunnan, respectively, during previous glacial periods in the Pleistocene, and these four refugia were not retained during the Last Glacial Maximum. Population expansions occurred during the last inter-glaciation, during which ice core and pollen data indicated that the temperature and precipitation gradually increased, and declines of population sizes started after the beginning of the Last Glacial Maximum when the climate became cooler and dryer. The paleo-drainage system had no contribution to the current genetic structure and the rivers were not dispersal barriers for this salamander.

Effects of Pleistocene climatic fluctuations on the phylogeography, demography and population structure of a high‐elevation snake species, Thermophis baileyi, on the Tibetan Plateau

“…In agreement with Hofmann (), our analysis revealed that the most recent common ancestor of the two main lineages of T. baileyi was dated roughly to the mid‐Pleistocene (0.316 Ma), coinciding with the beginning of the Guxiang (penultimate) glaciation. This estimate overlaps those of Phrynocephalus erythrurus from the southern Chang Thang area (Jin & Liu, ) and of several vertebrate species from the eastern plateau margins (Zhao et al ., ; Fan et al ., ; Yu et al ., ). The most extensive advance of the Guxiang glaciation, c .…”

Yangtze River, an insignificant genetic boundary in tufted deer (Elaphodus cephalophus): the evidence from a first population genetics study

“…In these species, the population expansion events often occurred after the LGM (0.022–0.018 Ma BP). In the Yangtze River basin, many native species had experienced strong expansion, such as the red knobby newt Tylototriton shanjing (Yu et al, 2013), the Yunnan spiny frog Nanorana yunnanensis (Zhang et al, 2010) and the grey-cheeked fulvetta Alcippe morrisonia (Song et al, 2009). However, these expansion events all happened much earlier than the LGM.…”

Shared response to changes in drainage basin: Phylogeography of the Yunnan small narrow‐mouthed frog, Glyphoglossus yunnanensis (Anura: Microhylidae)

“…Thus, based on the demographic stability coupled with low vagility, inference could be made that lineages have sufficient geographical stability to preserve the phylogenetic characteristics of ancient hydrological rearrangement and the geographical background of lineage splitting (Kozak et al, ). Much effort has been made to explore the pattern and extent of Pleistocene climatic oscillations on the geographical distribution and genetic diversity of organisms on the QTP and adjacent areas (Qiu, Fu, & Comes, ; Wan et al, ; Yan et al, ; Yang, Dong, & Lei, ; Yu et al, ; Yuan et al, ). Although complex topography is characterized by buffering effects of dramatic climatic oscillations (Muellner‐Riehl, ; Tzedakis, Lawson, Frogley, Hewitt, & Preece, ), responses to Pleistocene climatic changes vary among species in southwest China.…”

“…Population demographic dynamics vary with life history and geography (Hewitt, 2004 (Kozak et al, 2006). Much effort has been made to explore the pattern and extent of Pleistocene climatic oscillations on the geographical distribution and genetic diversity of organisms on the QTP and adjacent areas (Qiu, Fu, & Comes, 2011;Wan et al, 2018;Yan et al, 2013;Yang, Dong, & Lei, 2009;Yu et al, 2013;Yuan et al, 2016).…”

“…Although complex topography is characterized by buffering effects of dramatic climatic oscillations (Muellner-Riehl, 2019;Tzedakis, Lawson, Frogley, Hewitt, & Preece, 2002), responses to Pleistocene climatic changes vary among species in southwest China. Several studies have shown long-term demographic stability (Fan et al, 2013;Wan et al, 2018;Yan et al, 2013), whereas others have revealed extensive population expansion (Liu et al, 2013;Yu et al, 2013;Zhan, Zheng, Wei, Bruford, & Jia, 2011;Zhang, Chen, et al, 2010;Zhang, Rao, et al, 2010). Yuan et al (2016) believed that the ecological requirements of species within the same region, such as lowland and montane areas, should be considered in response to climate fluctuations.…”