Data from: Multilocus phylogenetic analyses of Hispaniolan and Bahamian trunk anoles (distichus species group)

The distichus species group includes six species and 21 subspecies of trunk ecomorph anoles distributed across Hispaniola and its satellite islands as well as the northern Bahamas. Although this group has long served as a model system for studies of reproductive character displacement, adaptation, behavior and speciation, it has never been the subject of a comprehensive phylogenetic analysis. Our goal here is to generate a multilocus phylogenetic dataset (one mitochondrial and seven nuclear loci) and to use this dataset to infer phylogenetic relationships among the majority of the taxa assigned to the distichus species group. We use these phylogenetic trees to address three topics about the group’s evolution. First, we consider longstanding taxonomic controversies about the status of several species and subspecies assigned to the distichus species group. Second, we investigate the biogeographic history of the group and specifically test the hypotheses that historical division of Hispaniola into two paleo-islands contributed to the group’s diversification and that Bahamian and Hispaniolan satellite island populations are derived from colonists from the main Hispaniolan landmass. Finally, third, we use comparative phylogenetic analyses to test the hypothesis that divergence between pale yellow and darkly pigmented orange or red dewlap coloration has occurred repeatedly across the distichus species group.

双冠蜥蜴物种群（distichus species group）包含6个物种与21个亚种，均为分布于伊斯帕尼奥拉岛及其附属卫星岛屿、以及巴哈马北部的树干生态型（trunk ecomorph）安乐蜥。尽管该类群长期以来作为生殖性状替换、适应性演化、行为学与物种形成研究的模式系统，但此前从未有针对其开展全面系统发育分析的相关研究。本研究旨在构建一套多位点系统发育数据集（multilocus phylogenetic dataset），包含1个线粒体基因位点与7个核基因位点，并借此推断归属于双冠蜥蜴物种群的绝大多数类群间的系统发育关系。我们将通过构建的系统发育树探讨该类群演化相关的三个核心议题：其一，审视长期以来围绕该类群内数个物种与亚种分类地位的悬而未决的分类学争议；其二，探究该类群的生物地理演化历史，并专门验证两项假说：一是伊斯帕尼奥拉岛历史上被分割为两座古岛屿这一事件推动了该类群的物种分化；二是巴哈马与伊斯帕尼奥拉岛附属卫星岛屿的种群均源自主岛伊斯帕尼奥拉大陆的拓殖种群；其三，利用比较系统发育分析验证假说：浅黄色与深色素沉着的橙色或红色喉扇颜色之间的性状分化在双冠蜥蜴物种群中曾多次独立发生。