Underlying microevolutionary processes parallel macroevolutionary patterns in ancient Neotropical Mountains - Ecological Niche Modeling and Corridors files

Aim

Ancient climatic fluctuations are invoked as the main driving force that generates the astonishing biodiversity in ancient mountains. As a result, endemism and spatial turnover are usually high and few species are widespread among entire mountain ranges, precluding the understanding of origins of macroevolutionary patterns. Here, we used a species endemic to, but widespread in, one of the most species-rich ancient mountains on the globe to test how environmental changes acted on them and how their macroevolutionary patterns were shaped.

Location

Espinhaço Range, Eastern Brazil.

Taxon

Vriesea oligantha species complex (Bromeliaceae).

Methods

We compiled data for plastidial regions and nuclear microsatellites to assess genetic diversity, population structure, migration rates and phylogenetic relationships. Using temperature and precipitation variables we modeled suitable areas for the present and the past, estimating corridors between isolated populations. We also...