Pleistocene glacial refugia across the Appalachian Mountains and coastal plain in the millipede genus <it>Narceus</it>: Evidence from population genetic, phylogeographic, and paleoclimatic data

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Species that are widespread throughout historically glaciated and currently non-glaciated areas provide excellent opportunities to investigate the role of Pleistocene climatic change on the distribution of North American biodiversity...

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Main Authors: Marek Paul E, Stockman Amy K, Walker Matt J, Bond Jason E
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2009-01-01
Series:BMC Evolutionary Biology
Online Access:http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2148/9/25
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spelling doaj-8ce7d2cd373549898232f3ce20114e7d2021-09-02T03:40:49ZengBMCBMC Evolutionary Biology1471-21482009-01-01912510.1186/1471-2148-9-25Pleistocene glacial refugia across the Appalachian Mountains and coastal plain in the millipede genus <it>Narceus</it>: Evidence from population genetic, phylogeographic, and paleoclimatic dataMarek Paul EStockman Amy KWalker Matt JBond Jason E<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Species that are widespread throughout historically glaciated and currently non-glaciated areas provide excellent opportunities to investigate the role of Pleistocene climatic change on the distribution of North American biodiversity. Many studies indicate that northern animal populations exhibit low levels of genetic diversity over geographically widespread areas whereas southern populations exhibit relatively high levels. Recently, paleoclimatic data have been combined with niche-based distribution modeling to locate possible refugia during the Last Glacial Maximum. Using phylogeographic, population, and paleoclimatic data, we show that the distribution and mitochondrial data for the millipede genus <it>Narceus </it>are consistent with classical examples of Pleistocene refugia and subsequent post-glacial population expansion seen in other organismal groups.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The phylogeographic structure of <it>Narceus </it>reveals a complex evolutionary history with signatures of multiple refugia in southeastern North America followed by two major northern expansions. Evidence for refugial populations were found in the southern Appalachian Mountains and in the coastal plain. The northern expansions appear to have radiated from two separate refugia, one from the Gulf Coastal Plain area and the other from the mid-Atlantic coastal region. Distributional models of <it>Narceus </it>during the Last Glacial Maximum show a dramatic reduction from the current distribution, with suitable ecological zones concentrated along the Gulf and Atlantic coastal plain. We found a strong correlation between these zones of ecological suitability inferred from our paleo-model with levels of genetic diversity derived from phylogenetic and population estimates of genetic structuring.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The signature of climatic change, during and after the Pleistocene, on the distribution of the millipede genus <it>Narceus </it>is evident in the genetic data presented. Niche-based historical distribution modeling strengthens the conclusions drawn from the genetic data and proves useful in identifying probable refugia. Such interdisciplinary biogeographic studies provide a comprehensive approach to understanding these processes that generate and maintain biodiversity as well as the framework necessary to explore questions regarding evolutionary diversification of taxa.</p> http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2148/9/25
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Marek Paul E
Stockman Amy K
Walker Matt J
Bond Jason E
spellingShingle Marek Paul E
Stockman Amy K
Walker Matt J
Bond Jason E
Pleistocene glacial refugia across the Appalachian Mountains and coastal plain in the millipede genus <it>Narceus</it>: Evidence from population genetic, phylogeographic, and paleoclimatic data
BMC Evolutionary Biology
author_facet Marek Paul E
Stockman Amy K
Walker Matt J
Bond Jason E
author_sort Marek Paul E
title Pleistocene glacial refugia across the Appalachian Mountains and coastal plain in the millipede genus <it>Narceus</it>: Evidence from population genetic, phylogeographic, and paleoclimatic data
title_short Pleistocene glacial refugia across the Appalachian Mountains and coastal plain in the millipede genus <it>Narceus</it>: Evidence from population genetic, phylogeographic, and paleoclimatic data
title_full Pleistocene glacial refugia across the Appalachian Mountains and coastal plain in the millipede genus <it>Narceus</it>: Evidence from population genetic, phylogeographic, and paleoclimatic data
title_fullStr Pleistocene glacial refugia across the Appalachian Mountains and coastal plain in the millipede genus <it>Narceus</it>: Evidence from population genetic, phylogeographic, and paleoclimatic data
title_full_unstemmed Pleistocene glacial refugia across the Appalachian Mountains and coastal plain in the millipede genus <it>Narceus</it>: Evidence from population genetic, phylogeographic, and paleoclimatic data
title_sort pleistocene glacial refugia across the appalachian mountains and coastal plain in the millipede genus <it>narceus</it>: evidence from population genetic, phylogeographic, and paleoclimatic data
publisher BMC
series BMC Evolutionary Biology
issn 1471-2148
publishDate 2009-01-01
description <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Species that are widespread throughout historically glaciated and currently non-glaciated areas provide excellent opportunities to investigate the role of Pleistocene climatic change on the distribution of North American biodiversity. Many studies indicate that northern animal populations exhibit low levels of genetic diversity over geographically widespread areas whereas southern populations exhibit relatively high levels. Recently, paleoclimatic data have been combined with niche-based distribution modeling to locate possible refugia during the Last Glacial Maximum. Using phylogeographic, population, and paleoclimatic data, we show that the distribution and mitochondrial data for the millipede genus <it>Narceus </it>are consistent with classical examples of Pleistocene refugia and subsequent post-glacial population expansion seen in other organismal groups.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The phylogeographic structure of <it>Narceus </it>reveals a complex evolutionary history with signatures of multiple refugia in southeastern North America followed by two major northern expansions. Evidence for refugial populations were found in the southern Appalachian Mountains and in the coastal plain. The northern expansions appear to have radiated from two separate refugia, one from the Gulf Coastal Plain area and the other from the mid-Atlantic coastal region. Distributional models of <it>Narceus </it>during the Last Glacial Maximum show a dramatic reduction from the current distribution, with suitable ecological zones concentrated along the Gulf and Atlantic coastal plain. We found a strong correlation between these zones of ecological suitability inferred from our paleo-model with levels of genetic diversity derived from phylogenetic and population estimates of genetic structuring.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The signature of climatic change, during and after the Pleistocene, on the distribution of the millipede genus <it>Narceus </it>is evident in the genetic data presented. Niche-based historical distribution modeling strengthens the conclusions drawn from the genetic data and proves useful in identifying probable refugia. Such interdisciplinary biogeographic studies provide a comprehensive approach to understanding these processes that generate and maintain biodiversity as well as the framework necessary to explore questions regarding evolutionary diversification of taxa.</p>
url http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2148/9/25
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