Macroevolutionary processes in turtles (Testudines): a view from biomic specialization and historical climatic changes
The resource-use hypothesis proposed by Elisabeth S. Vrba suggests that lineages display varying tendencies toward generalism or specialization in biome occupancy, with a tendency towards the accumulation of specialists due to their higher rate of speciation through vicariance. It also posits differ...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2024.1474500/full |
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| author | Juan S. Thomas Sara Gamboa Manuel Hernández Fernández Manuel Hernández Fernández Oscar Murillo Jonathan S. Pelegrin |
| author_facet | Juan S. Thomas Sara Gamboa Manuel Hernández Fernández Manuel Hernández Fernández Oscar Murillo Jonathan S. Pelegrin |
| author_sort | Juan S. Thomas |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The resource-use hypothesis proposed by Elisabeth S. Vrba suggests that lineages display varying tendencies toward generalism or specialization in biome occupancy, with a tendency towards the accumulation of specialists due to their higher rate of speciation through vicariance. It also posits differences in biome occupancy patterns driven by the environmental characteristics of biomes, with a higher presence of biome specialist species in biomes that are placed in the extremes of the global climatic gradients. Here, we tested this hypothesis in turtles, a very ancient and morphologically stable lineage, representing a remarkable diversity with 357 species, many of which are threatened with extinction. We analyzed the resource-use hypothesis in a phylogenetic context within the Testudines lineage. For this purpose, a presence/absence matrix was compiled for all species across all 10 terrestrial biomes. Their distribution across biomes was contrasted with 10,000 Monte Carlo simulations. The relationship between diversification rates and both the biomic specialization index and the biomes occupied by specialists species was evaluated. The results demonstrate strong consistency with Vrba`s hypothesis, revealing a higher number of biome specialist species than expected by chance, with a significant accumulation of species in tropical ecosystems. These trends also were observed for ecological groups (terrestrial and freshwater species). In addition, higher diversification rates were observed for biome specialist species, although the particular biome occupied did not significantly influence their diversification rates. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-dac4755843424f8a8b56232156d6e8d2 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2296-701X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj-art-dac4755843424f8a8b56232156d6e8d22025-08-20T03:56:55ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution2296-701X2024-12-011210.3389/fevo.2024.14745001474500Macroevolutionary processes in turtles (Testudines): a view from biomic specialization and historical climatic changesJuan S. Thomas0Sara Gamboa1Manuel Hernández Fernández2Manuel Hernández Fernández3Oscar Murillo4Jonathan S. Pelegrin5Grupo de Investigación en Ecología y Conservación de la Biodiversidad (EcoBio), Equipo de Paleobiología, Ecología y Evolución (PaleoEco), Facultades de Ciencias Básicas y Educación, Universidad Santiago de Cali, Cali, ColombiaMAPAS Lab, Centro de Investigación Mariña, Universidade de Vigo, Vigo, SpainDepartamento de Geodinámica, Estratigrafía y Paleontología, Facultad de Ciencias Geológicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, SpainDepartamento de Cambio Medioambiental, Instituto de Geociencias (UCM, CSIC), Madrid, SpainGrupo de Investigación en Ecología Animal, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Exactas, Universidad del Valle, Cali, ColombiaGrupo de Investigación en Ecología y Conservación de la Biodiversidad (EcoBio), Equipo de Paleobiología, Ecología y Evolución (PaleoEco), Facultades de Ciencias Básicas y Educación, Universidad Santiago de Cali, Cali, ColombiaThe resource-use hypothesis proposed by Elisabeth S. Vrba suggests that lineages display varying tendencies toward generalism or specialization in biome occupancy, with a tendency towards the accumulation of specialists due to their higher rate of speciation through vicariance. It also posits differences in biome occupancy patterns driven by the environmental characteristics of biomes, with a higher presence of biome specialist species in biomes that are placed in the extremes of the global climatic gradients. Here, we tested this hypothesis in turtles, a very ancient and morphologically stable lineage, representing a remarkable diversity with 357 species, many of which are threatened with extinction. We analyzed the resource-use hypothesis in a phylogenetic context within the Testudines lineage. For this purpose, a presence/absence matrix was compiled for all species across all 10 terrestrial biomes. Their distribution across biomes was contrasted with 10,000 Monte Carlo simulations. The relationship between diversification rates and both the biomic specialization index and the biomes occupied by specialists species was evaluated. The results demonstrate strong consistency with Vrba`s hypothesis, revealing a higher number of biome specialist species than expected by chance, with a significant accumulation of species in tropical ecosystems. These trends also were observed for ecological groups (terrestrial and freshwater species). In addition, higher diversification rates were observed for biome specialist species, although the particular biome occupied did not significantly influence their diversification rates.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2024.1474500/fullbioclimatologyecological specializationmacroecologymacroevolutionresource-use hypothesisspeciation |
| spellingShingle | Juan S. Thomas Sara Gamboa Manuel Hernández Fernández Manuel Hernández Fernández Oscar Murillo Jonathan S. Pelegrin Macroevolutionary processes in turtles (Testudines): a view from biomic specialization and historical climatic changes Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution bioclimatology ecological specialization macroecology macroevolution resource-use hypothesis speciation |
| title | Macroevolutionary processes in turtles (Testudines): a view from biomic specialization and historical climatic changes |
| title_full | Macroevolutionary processes in turtles (Testudines): a view from biomic specialization and historical climatic changes |
| title_fullStr | Macroevolutionary processes in turtles (Testudines): a view from biomic specialization and historical climatic changes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Macroevolutionary processes in turtles (Testudines): a view from biomic specialization and historical climatic changes |
| title_short | Macroevolutionary processes in turtles (Testudines): a view from biomic specialization and historical climatic changes |
| title_sort | macroevolutionary processes in turtles testudines a view from biomic specialization and historical climatic changes |
| topic | bioclimatology ecological specialization macroecology macroevolution resource-use hypothesis speciation |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2024.1474500/full |
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