Tracing the origins and evolution of nymphalid butterflies (Lepidoptera) in the Atlantic Forest

To study the roles of diversification and dispersal in shaping Atlantic Forest Nymphalidae diversity patterns, we sequenced 68 species, including 43 previously absent from global time-calibrated butterfly phylogenies (Chazot et al., 2021; Kawahara et al., 2023) and compiled distribution data for 1377 species. We studied whether the diversity of Atlantic Forest Nymphalidae results (1) from a long history of complete biotic isolation, reflected in early dispersal events followed by in situ diversification; (2) from gradual isolation, leading to decreasing interchange with Amazonia and a stronger role of local speciation; or (3) from continuous connectivity with other Neotropical biomes, where recurrent dispersal dominates and local diversification plays a minor role.