Genomics reveals broad hybridization in deeply divergent Palearctic grass and water snakes (Natrix spp.)

Schöneberg, Yannis; Winter, Sven; Arribas, Oscar J.; Nicola, Matteo Riccardo Di; Master, Maya; Owens, John Benjamin; Rovatsos, Michail; Wüster, Wolfgang; Janke, Axel; Fritz, Uwe

doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2023.107787

Cited by 7 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 71 publications

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“…Natricids likely originated ~35–47.1 million years ago in Asia [ 50 , 73 , 74 ], where most of the extant Natricidae species live, and dispersed to Australo-Melanesia, sub-Saharan Africa, Europe/North Africa, and North/Central America [ 74 ]. The Natrix lineage dispersed to the western Palearctic, where the genus Natrix diversified [ 21 ]. According to Deepak et al [ 74 ], extant western Palearctic natricids started to diverge ~ 26 Mya, and extant Natrix spp.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…~16 Mya with N. maura . Schöneberg et al [ 21 ], who first used a genomics approach for the genus Natrix , indicate for the extant Natrix spp. the following divergence ages: N. maura ~21.5 Mya; N. tessellata ~18.7 Mya; N. natrix ~13.7 Mya; N. astreptophora split from N. helvetica ~7.3 Mya.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Fritz et al [ 20 ], based on phylogenetic analysis, indicate a divergence from the continental forms between 4.4 and 4.3 Mya, during the lower Pliocene, probably derived from the isolation due to the post-Messinian floods of the Mediterranean basin, which occurred 5.33 Mya (see [ 78 ]). The most recent genomic-based phylogenetic analysis confirmed that the divergence would have occurred in the Pliocene, ~4.5 Mya [ 21 ]. On the other hand, the Sardinian and Corsican populations appear to be weakly differentiated from each other [ 20 , 22 ].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These are the western whip snake Hierophis viridiflavus (see [ 19 ]) and the barred grass snake N. helvetica . The Sardinian-Corsican populations of N. helvetica then differentiated from the continental ones, resulting in a separate subspecific taxon [ 20 , 21 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The influence of distributional and environmental variables on dorsal pattern variation is also investigated.

Figure 1 Western and Central Eurasia, with the approximate* distribution ranges of the Natrix natrix complex species and N. helvetica subspecies according to [ 21 , 22 , 23 , 29 ]. *Admixture areas between different taxa are not shown ( A ); Adult individual of Natrix helvetica cetti in its natural habitat in the “Sette Fratelli” area, South Sardinia ( B ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Endangered Sardinian Grass Snake: Distribution Update, Bioclimatic Niche Modelling, Dorsal Pattern Characterisation, and Literature Review

Di Nicola,

Pozzi,

Mezzadri

et al. 2023

Life

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The Sardinian grass snake, Natrix helvetica cetti, is an endangered endemic snake subspecies with a restricted and highly fragmented geographic distribution. Information on its ecology and detailed geographic distribution are scarce and may negatively impact on its conservation status. Therefore, a literature review on its taxonomy, morphology, ecology, and conservation is presented here. Moreover, field records from the authors, citizen science and the existing literature provide an updated geographic distribution highlighting its presence within 13 new and 7 historic 10 × 10 km cells. Bioclimatic niche modelling was then applied to explore patterns of habitat suitability and phenotypic variation within N. h. cetti. The geographic distribution of the species was found to be positively correlated with altitude and precipitation values, whereas temperature showed a negative correlation. Taken together, these outcomes may explain the snake’s presence, particularly in eastern Sardinia. In addition, analysis of distribution overlap with the competing viperine snake (N. maura) and the urodeles as possible overlooked trophic resources (Speleomantes spp. and Euproctus platycephalus) showed overlaps of 66% and 79%, respectively. Finally, geographical or bioclimatic correlations did not explain phenotypic variation patterns observed in this highly polymorphic taxon. Perspectives on future research to investigate N. h. cetti’s decline and support effective conservation measures are discussed.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The influence of distributional and environmental variables on dorsal pattern variation is also investigated.

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

The Endangered Sardinian Grass Snake: Distribution Update, Bioclimatic Niche Modelling, Dorsal Pattern Characterisation, and Literature Review

Di Nicola,

Pozzi,

Mezzadri

et al. 2023

Life

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Melanin‐based color variation in response to changing climates in snakes

Goldenberg,

Bisschop,

Bruni

et al. 2024

Ecology and Evolution

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Melanism, the process of heavier melanin deposition, can interact with climate variation at both micro and macro scales, ultimately influencing color evolution in organisms. While the ecological processes regulating melanin production in relation to climate have been extensively studied, intraspecific variations of melanism are seldom considered. Such scientific gap hampers our understanding of how species adapt to rapidly changing climates. For example, dark coloration may lead to higher heat absorption and be advantageous in cool climates, but also in hot environments as a UV or antimicrobial protection mechanism. To disentangle such opposing predictions, here we examined the effect of climate on shaping melanism variation in 150 barred grass snakes (Natrix helvetica) and 383 green whip snakes (Hierophis viridiflavus) across Italy. By utilizing melanistic morphs (charcoal and picturata in N. helvetica, charcoal and abundistic in H. viridiflavus) and compiling observations from 2002 to 2021, we predicted that charcoal morphs in H. viridiflavus would optimize heat absorption in cold environments, while offering protection from excessive UV radiation in N. helvetica within warm habitats; whereas picturata and abundistic morphs would thrive in humid environments, which naturally have a denser vegetation and wetter substrates producing darker ambient light, thus providing concealment advantages. While picturata and abundistic morphs did not align with our initial humidity expectations, the charcoal morph in N. helvetica is associated with UV environments, suggesting protection mechanisms against damaging solar radiation. H. viridiflavus is associated with high precipitations, which might offer antimicrobial protection. Overall, our results provide insights into the correlations between melanin‐based color morphs and climate variables in snake populations. While suggestive of potential adaptive responses, future research should delve deeper into the underlying mechanisms regulating this relationship.

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Cladistic species definitions can lead to under-representation of biodiversity from adaptive radiations

Turner

2024

Evolutionary Journal of the Linnean Society

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Many species are paraphyletic, but current taxonomic practices often do not recognize this, and attempts are made to apply a monophyletic species concept. While allowing the recognition of ecomorphologically equivalent, or even phenotypically indistinguishable allopatric, taxa as species, this often leads to combining distinctive local forms (such as cave-adapted populations) or even whole adaptive radiations (often in lakes) with widespread paraphyletic species to force species monophyly. It is suggested that this has negative consequences for our documentation and understanding of biodiversity, as well as for conservation, through issues such as lack of IUCN red-listing.

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Genomics reveals broad hybridization in deeply divergent Palearctic grass and water snakes (Natrix spp.)

Cited by 7 publications

References 71 publications

The Endangered Sardinian Grass Snake: Distribution Update, Bioclimatic Niche Modelling, Dorsal Pattern Characterisation, and Literature Review

The Endangered Sardinian Grass Snake: Distribution Update, Bioclimatic Niche Modelling, Dorsal Pattern Characterisation, and Literature Review

Melanin‐based color variation in response to changing climates in snakes

Cladistic species definitions can lead to under-representation of biodiversity from adaptive radiations

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