Ecological factors promote convergent evolution and ecological speciation in dwarf chameleons (Bradypodion)
Differing ecological conditions are considered drivers of directional selection among or between populations, resulting in ecological speciation. In particular, divergence of phenotypes in differing habitats, or convergence of phenotypes in similar habitats, can be the result of directional selectio...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Pensoft Publishers
2025-07-01
|
| Series: | Zoosystematics and Evolution |
| Online Access: | https://zse.pensoft.net/article/151926/download/pdf/ |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849713677440122880 |
|---|---|
| author | Krystal A. Tolley Devon C. Main Keith M. Dube Bettine Jansen van Vuuren Jessica M. da Silva |
| author_facet | Krystal A. Tolley Devon C. Main Keith M. Dube Bettine Jansen van Vuuren Jessica M. da Silva |
| author_sort | Krystal A. Tolley |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Differing ecological conditions are considered drivers of directional selection among or between populations, resulting in ecological speciation. In particular, divergence of phenotypes in differing habitats, or convergence of phenotypes in similar habitats, can be the result of directional selection. Accordingly, species of dwarf chameleons (Bradypodion) that occur in structurally similar habitats tend to converge on a similar phenotype. Conversely, dwarf chameleons from contrasting habitats have been shown to diverge in phenotype. Thus, ecological speciation appears to be a mechanism for diversification in this genus. Using a combination of morphological (functional and ornamental traits) and population genetic analyses (microsatellite loci), we examined whether three closely related Bradypodion lineages have diverged for these dimensions. We assess whether habitats differ in structure for features related to divergence in morphological traits or whether convergence of traits corresponds to similarity in habitat structure. We find that the three taxa differ significantly at a population genetic level, but some allele sharing suggests incomplete lineage sorting or gene flow. Differences among taxa for functional traits related to gripping of branches (e.g., distal limb size [hands/feet]) can be explained by the perch diameters used by chameleons, whereas the degree of ornamentation differs among taxa in different habitats but is convergent for those in similar habitats. These outcomes are congruent with an ecological model of speciation, with taxa having diverged genetically but showing phenotypic convergence when in similar habitats and divergence when in different habitats. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-434d5e9efdbc407c906721cb07bcae34 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1860-0743 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Pensoft Publishers |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Zoosystematics and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj-art-434d5e9efdbc407c906721cb07bcae342025-08-20T03:13:54ZengPensoft PublishersZoosystematics and Evolution1860-07432025-07-0110131227124710.3897/zse.101.151926151926Ecological factors promote convergent evolution and ecological speciation in dwarf chameleons (Bradypodion)Krystal A. Tolley0Devon C. Main1Keith M. Dube2Bettine Jansen van Vuuren3Jessica M. da Silva4University of JohannesburgUniversity of JohannesburgUniversity of JohannesburgUniversity of JohannesburgSouth African National Biodiversity Institute, Kirstenbosch Research CentreDiffering ecological conditions are considered drivers of directional selection among or between populations, resulting in ecological speciation. In particular, divergence of phenotypes in differing habitats, or convergence of phenotypes in similar habitats, can be the result of directional selection. Accordingly, species of dwarf chameleons (Bradypodion) that occur in structurally similar habitats tend to converge on a similar phenotype. Conversely, dwarf chameleons from contrasting habitats have been shown to diverge in phenotype. Thus, ecological speciation appears to be a mechanism for diversification in this genus. Using a combination of morphological (functional and ornamental traits) and population genetic analyses (microsatellite loci), we examined whether three closely related Bradypodion lineages have diverged for these dimensions. We assess whether habitats differ in structure for features related to divergence in morphological traits or whether convergence of traits corresponds to similarity in habitat structure. We find that the three taxa differ significantly at a population genetic level, but some allele sharing suggests incomplete lineage sorting or gene flow. Differences among taxa for functional traits related to gripping of branches (e.g., distal limb size [hands/feet]) can be explained by the perch diameters used by chameleons, whereas the degree of ornamentation differs among taxa in different habitats but is convergent for those in similar habitats. These outcomes are congruent with an ecological model of speciation, with taxa having diverged genetically but showing phenotypic convergence when in similar habitats and divergence when in different habitats.https://zse.pensoft.net/article/151926/download/pdf/ |
| spellingShingle | Krystal A. Tolley Devon C. Main Keith M. Dube Bettine Jansen van Vuuren Jessica M. da Silva Ecological factors promote convergent evolution and ecological speciation in dwarf chameleons (Bradypodion) Zoosystematics and Evolution |
| title | Ecological factors promote convergent evolution and ecological speciation in dwarf chameleons (Bradypodion) |
| title_full | Ecological factors promote convergent evolution and ecological speciation in dwarf chameleons (Bradypodion) |
| title_fullStr | Ecological factors promote convergent evolution and ecological speciation in dwarf chameleons (Bradypodion) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ecological factors promote convergent evolution and ecological speciation in dwarf chameleons (Bradypodion) |
| title_short | Ecological factors promote convergent evolution and ecological speciation in dwarf chameleons (Bradypodion) |
| title_sort | ecological factors promote convergent evolution and ecological speciation in dwarf chameleons bradypodion |
| url | https://zse.pensoft.net/article/151926/download/pdf/ |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT krystalatolley ecologicalfactorspromoteconvergentevolutionandecologicalspeciationindwarfchameleonsbradypodion AT devoncmain ecologicalfactorspromoteconvergentevolutionandecologicalspeciationindwarfchameleonsbradypodion AT keithmdube ecologicalfactorspromoteconvergentevolutionandecologicalspeciationindwarfchameleonsbradypodion AT bettinejansenvanvuuren ecologicalfactorspromoteconvergentevolutionandecologicalspeciationindwarfchameleonsbradypodion AT jessicamdasilva ecologicalfactorspromoteconvergentevolutionandecologicalspeciationindwarfchameleonsbradypodion |