Traditional multilocus phylogeny fails to fully resolve Palearctic ground squirrels (Spermophilus) relationships but reveals a new species endemic to West Siberia

Theme: Biology
Author: Ермаков Олег Александрович , Титов Сергей Витальевич  (with the team of authors)
Annotation: Previous efforts to reconstruct evolutionary history of Palearctic ground squirrels within the genus Spermophilus have primarily relied on a single mitochondrial marker for phylogenetic data. In this study, we present the first phylogeny with comprehensive taxon sampling of Spermophilus via a conventional multilocus approach utilizing five mitochondrial and five nuclear markers. Through application of the multispecies coalescent model, we constructed a species tree revealing four distinct clades that diverged during the Late Miocene. These clades are 1) S. alaschanicus and S. dauricus from East Asia; 2) S. musicus and S. pygmaeus from East Europe and northwestern Central Asia; 3) the subgenus Colobotis found across Central Asia and its adjacent regions and encompassing S. brevicauda, S. erythrogenys, S. fulvus, S. major, S. pallidicauda, S. ralli, S. relictus, S. selevini, and S. vorontsovi sp. nov.; and 4) a Central/Eastern Europe and Asia Minor clade comprising S. citellus, S. taurensis, S. xanthoprymnus, S. suslicus, and S. odessanus. The latter clade lacked strong support owing to uncertainty of taxonomic placement of S. odessanus and S. suslicus. Resolving relationships within the subgenus Colobotis, which radiated rapidly, remains challenging likely because of incomplete lineage sorting and introgressive hybridization. Most of modern Spermophilus species diversified during the Early–Middle Pleistocene (2.2–1.0 million years ago). We propose a revised taxonomic classification for the genus Spermophilus by recognizing 18 species including a newly identified one (S. vorontsovi sp. nov.), which is found only in a limited area in the southeast of West Siberia. Employing genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphism genotyping, we substantiated the role of the Ob River as a major barrier ensuring robust isolation of this taxon from S. erythrogenys. Despite its inherent limitations, the traditional multilocus approach remains a valuable tool for resolving relationships and can provide important insights into otherwise poorly understood groups. It is imperative to recognize that additional efforts are needed to definitively determine phylogenetic relationships between certain species of Palearctic ground squirrels.
Type: Article
Kind: Electronic copy
Parts: 1
The year of publishing: 2024
Publishing house: Academic Press Inc.
Publishing place: Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution
The target audience: Researcher
Special purpose: Scientific
Copyright holder: Academic Press Inc.
ISSN: 1055-7903 1095-9513
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2024.108057
SJR: 1,21
Bibliographic reference: Simonov E., Lopatina N.V., Titov S.V., Ivanova A.D., Brandler O.V., Surin V.L., Matrosova V.A., Dvilis A.E., Oreshkova N.V., Kapustina S.Yu., Golenishchev F.N., Ermakov O.A., 2024. Traditional multilocus phylogeny fails to fully resolve Palearctic ground squirrels (Spermophilus) relationships but reveals a new species endemic to West Siberia // Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. Vol. 195. 108057.
Url: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1055790324000496?via%3Dihub
Language: English
Post date:13.10.2024