Data from: Evolution and conservation on top of the world: Phylogeography of the Marbled Water Frog (Telmatobius marmoratus species complex; Anura, Telmatobiidae) in protected areas of Chile

The Andean Altiplano has served as a complex setting throughout its history, driving dynamic processes of diversification in several taxa. We investigated phylogeographic processes in the Telmatobius marmoratus species complex occurring in this region, by studying the geographic patterns of genetic variability, genealogies and historical migration, using the cytochrome b (cyt-b) gene as a marker. DNA sequences from T. gigas and T. culeus, Bolivian species with an uncertain taxonomic status, were also included. Additionally, we evaluated the phylogenetic diversity (PD) represented within Chilean protected areas and the complementary contribution from unprotected populations. Phylogenetic reconstructions from 148 cyt-b sequences revealed four main clades, one of which corresponded to T. culeus. T. gigas was part of T. marmoratus clade indicating paraphyletic relationships. Haplotypes from Chilean and Bolivian sites were not reciprocally monophyletic. Geographic distribution of lineages, spatial Bayesian analysis, and migration patterns, indicated that T. marmoratus displays a weaker geographic structure than expected based on habitat distribution and physiological requirements. Demographic and statistical phylogeography analyses pointed out to a scenario of recent population expansion and high connectivity events of a more recent age than the post Last Glacial Maximum, probably associated to more humid events in Altiplano. PD of T. marmoratus populations within protected areas represents 55.6% of the total estimated PD. The unprotected populations that would contribute the most to PD are Caquena and Quebe (21%). Recent evolutionary processes and paleoclimatic changes, potentially driving shifts in habitat connectivity levels and population sizes, could explain the phylogeographic patterns recovered herein.

安第斯高原（Andean Altiplano）在其演化历史中始终作为复杂的生境背景，推动了多个类群的多样化动态进程。本研究以细胞色素b（cytochrome b, cyt-b）基因作为分子标记，通过分析遗传变异的地理格局、谱系关系与历史迁移模式，探究了该区域内大理石纹池蟾（Telmatobius marmoratus）物种复合群的系统地理学过程。本研究还纳入了分类地位尚不明确的玻利维亚物种T. gigas与T. culeus的DNA序列。此外，我们评估了智利保护区内所涵盖的系统发育多样性（phylogenetic diversity, PD），以及未受保护种群对该多样性的补充贡献。基于148条cyt-b基因序列构建的系统发育重建结果显示存在四个主要演化支（clade），其中一支对应T. culeus。T. gigas隶属于T. marmoratus演化支，表明二者存在并系演化关系。智利与玻利维亚采样位点的单倍型并未形成相互单系群。谱系的地理分布格局、空间贝叶斯分析以及迁移模式均表明，T. marmoratus的地理结构弱于基于生境分布与生理需求所预期的水平。种群动态与统计系统地理学分析显示，其种群近期发生扩张，且高连通性事件发生于末次冰盛期（Last Glacial Maximum, LGM）之后的更近时间节点，这可能与高原地区更为湿润的气候事件相关。智利保护区内T. marmoratus种群的系统发育多样性占总估算系统发育多样性的55.6%。对系统发育多样性贡献最大的未受保护种群为Caquena与Quebe，占比达21%。本研究揭示的系统地理学格局，可通过近期演化过程与古气候变化得到解释，后者或驱动了生境连通性水平与种群规模的变化。