Data from: Evolution and conservation on top of the world: Phylogeography of the Marbled Water Frog (Telmatobius marmoratus species complex; Anura, Telmatobiidae) in protected areas of Chile

The Andean Altiplano has served as a complex setting throughout its history, driving dynamic processes of diversification in several taxa. We investigated phylogeographic processes in the Telmatobius marmoratus species complex occurring in this region by studying the geographic patterns of genetic variability, genealogies, and historical migration, using the cytochrome b (cyt-b) gene as a marker. DNA sequences from Telmatobius gigas and Telmatobius culeus, Bolivian species with an uncertain taxonomic status, were also included. Additionally, we evaluated the phylogenetic diversity (PD) represented within Chilean protected areas and the complementary contribution from unprotected populations. Phylogenetic reconstructions from 148 cyt-b sequences revealed 4 main clades, one of which corresponded to T. culeus. T. gigas was part of T. marmoratus clade indicating paraphyletic relationships. Haplotypes from Chilean and Bolivian sites were not reciprocally monophyletic. Geographic distribution of lineages, spatial Bayesian analysis, and migration patterns indicated that T. marmoratus displays a weaker geographic structure than expected based on habitat distribution and physiological requirements. Demographic and statistical phylogeography analyses pointed out to a scenario of recent population expansion and high connectivity events of a more recent age than the post Last Glacial Maximum, probably associated to more humid events in Altiplano. PD of T. marmoratus populations within protected areas represents 55.6% of the total estimated PD. The unprotected populations that would contribute the most to PD are Caquena and Quebe (21%). Recent evolutionary processes and paleoclimatic changes, potentially driving shifts in habitat connectivity levels and population sizes, could explain the phylogeographic patterns recovered herein.

安第斯高原（Andean Altiplano）在其演化历程中始终是一处复杂多样的生境，驱动了多个类群的动态分化进程。本研究以细胞色素b（cytochrome b，cyt-b）基因为分子标记，通过分析遗传变异的地理分布模式、谱系关系与历史基因流，对该区域内的斑蟾（Telmatobius marmoratus）物种复合群开展了系统地理学研究。本研究同时纳入了分类地位存疑的玻利维亚物种巨池蟾（Telmatobius gigas）与库莱池蟾（Telmatobius culeus）的DNA序列。此外，本研究还评估了智利保护区内所涵盖的系统发育多样性（phylogenetic diversity，PD），以及未受保护种群对该多样性的补充贡献。基于148条cyt-b基因序列的系统发育重建结果显示，共存在4个主要演化支，其中一支对应库莱池蟾（T. culeus）。巨池蟾（T. gigas）隶属于斑蟾（T. marmoratus）演化支，表明二者存在并系演化关系。智利与玻利维亚采样点的单倍型并未形成相互单系群。谱系的地理分布、空间贝叶斯分析以及基因流模式均显示，斑蟾（T. marmoratus）的地理种群结构相较于基于栖息地分布与生理需求的预期更为薄弱。种群遗传学与统计系统地理学分析结果表明，该类群近期经历了种群扩张事件，且种群间的高连通性发生于末次盛冰期（Last Glacial Maximum）之后的更晚时期，这可能与安第斯高原（Andean Altiplano）内的湿润气候事件相关。智利保护区内斑蟾种群的系统发育多样性占总估算系统发育多样性的55.6%。对系统发育多样性贡献最大的未受保护种群为卡奎纳（Caquena）与克贝（Quebe）种群，其贡献占比达21%。本研究所得的系统地理学格局，可由近期演化过程与古气候变化得到解释——这些过程与变化或驱动了栖息地连通性与种群规模的改变。