Population dynamics of Amazonian floodplain forest species support spatial variation on genetic diversity but not range expansions through time

Aim: We tested if historical demographic changes of populations occurring on the floodplains of a major Amazon Basin tributary could be associated with range expansions from upper and middle sections of the river, following the establishment of widespread river-created environments during the Late Pleistocene and Holocene.
Location: Solimões River, Western Amazon, South America.
Taxon: Myrmoborus lugubris, Thamnophilus cryptoleucus and Myrmotherula assimilis.
Methods: We explored spatial patterns of genetic diversity and connectivity among sampled localities using thousands of Ultra-Conserved Elements. Range expansions were tested with alternative methods. We quantified habitat preference for the analyzed species to test whether the occupation of dynamic habitats could predict spatial patterns of genetic diversity.
Results: Our study did not support shared population range expansions related to historical regionalized changes in habitat availability. We found considerable variation in t...