The species versus subspecies conundrum: quantitative delimitation from integrating multiple data types within a single Bayesian approach in Hercules beetles

With the recent attention and focus on quantitative methods for species delimitation, an overlooked but equally important issue regards what has actually been delimited. This study investigates the apparent arbitrariness of some taxonomic distinctions, and in particular how species and subspecies are assigned. Specifically, we use a recently developed Bayesian model-based approach to show that in the Hercules beetles (genus Dynastes) there is no statistical difference in the probability that putative taxa represent different species, irrespective of whether they were given species or subspecies designations. By considering multiple data types, as opposed to relying exclusively on genetic data alone, we also show that both previously recognized species and subspecies represent a variety of points along the speciation spectrum (i.e., previously recognized species are not systematically further along the continuum than subspecies). For example, based on evolutionary models of divergence, s...随着近期物种界定（species delimitation）量化方法受到广泛关注与研究，一个虽被忽视却同等重要的问题在于：实际被界定的对象究竟是什么。本研究针对部分分类学区分中存在的看似随意的判定问题展开探究，尤其聚焦物种与亚种的划分标准。具体而言，我们采用新近开发的基于贝叶斯模型（Bayesian model）的分析方法，证实：在大力士甲虫属（Dynastes）中，无论候选类群（putative taxa）被赋予物种还是亚种的分类地位，其作为独立物种的概率均无统计学意义上的差异。相较于仅依赖单一遗传数据的研究，我们通过整合多类数据类型开展分析，进一步证实：过往被认定的物种与亚种均处于物种形成光谱（speciation spectrum）的不同节点上——换言之，过往认定的物种并未系统性地比亚种更趋近物种形成连续体的末端。例如，基于分化演化模型的分析，s……