Marine introgressions and Andean uplift drives diversification in neotropical Monkey tree frogs (Anura,Phyllomedusinae)

Abstract

The species richness in Neotropics has been linked to environmental heterogeneity and a complex geological history. We evaluated which biogeographical processes were more associated with the diversification of Monkey tree frogs, an endemic clade from the Neotropics. We tested the hypothesis that the diversification of Phyllomedusinae occurred in a south-north direction in the Neotropics, and that marine introgressions and Andean uplift had a crucial role promoting their diversification. We used 13 molecular markers on a bayesian analysis to infer phylogenetic relationships among 57 species of Phyllomedusinae and to estimate their divergence times. We defined 12 biogeographical units based on landscape modifications and species distribution. Ancestral range estimations were made by models implemented in BioGeoBEARS. We found that the Phyllomedusinae hypothetical ancestor range was probably widespread through the Neotropics, from Central America to Southern Atlantic Forest, at 38.6 Mya. Phyllomedusines' ancestors diverged mostly through vicariance during early stages of speciation, generally followed by jump-dispersals and speciation in sympatry. Dispersal among areas mostly occurred from Western Amazonia towards Northern Andes and the diagonal of dry landscapes, rejecting our south-north diversification hypothesis. Our results revealed a complex diversification of Monkey tree frogs, occurring simultaneously with the orogeny of Northern Andes and the South American marine introgressions in the last 30 million years.