Data from: Phylogenomics of endangered troglobiotic rove beetles (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae) from central Texas karst regions

The karst habitats of central Texas, USA, support a diverse assemblage of
endemic subterranean-obligate (troglobiotic) invertebrates, including
several species of rove beetles (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae).
This study generated a molecular dataset using sequence capture of
Ultra-Conserved Elements (UCEs) to investigate species relationships and
diversification patterns within this group. The analysis focused on
species of the genera Batrisodes and Texamaurops, with particular
attention to the federally endangered species Batrisodes texanus and
Batrisodes cryptotexanus. Within the Travis and Williamson County
cave-dwelling lineages, four well-supported clades were identified that
broadly correspond to previously recognized geologic barriers to dispersal
defined as karst fauna regions (KFRs). The results indicate a northward
pattern of diversification among these lineages. The clades correspond to:
(A) Texamaurops reddelli in the Jollyville Plateau KFR; (B) Batrisodes
reyesi in the West Cedar Park and Post Oak Ridge KFRs; (C) Batrisodes
reyesi in the McNeil–Round Rock KFR; and (D) a combined lineage of
Batrisodes cryptotexanus and Batrisodes texanus in the Georgetown and
North Williamson KFRs. However, the morphologically defined species
Batrisodes texanus and Batrisodes cryptotexanus were not recovered as
reciprocally monophyletic in phylogenetic analyses and did not form two
distinct groups in clustering analyses of single-nucleotide polymorphisms
(SNPs). Instead, the results supported the presence of five major
subclades and five to seven genetic clusters. These patterns suggest that
diversification and subsequent isolation of lineages likely occurred as
karst habitats became progressively available over time within the North
Williamson and Georgetown KFRs, influenced by geological processes such as
faulting, structural changes, and drainage basin evolution. Comparisons
with cave habitat resiliency assessments indicated that four genetic
clusters occur within habitats that retain at least partial resilience,
whereas three clusters are restricted to caves with low or impaired
resiliency. Overall, integrating the genetic findings of this study with
results from other molecular studies of co-occurring troglobiotic
invertebrates highlights the importance of considering additional
geological substructure within the North Williamson KFR when developing
conservation strategies for these rare subterranean lineages and their
habitats.