A phylogenomic resolution for the taxonomy of Aegean green lizards
Lacerta pamphylica and Lacerta trilineata are two currently recognized green lizard species with a historically problematic taxonomy. In cases of tangled phylogenies, next-generation sequencing and double-digest restriction-site-associated DNA protocols can provide a wealth of genomic data and resolve difficult taxonomic issues. Here, we generated genome-wide SNPs and mitochondrial sequences, and applied molecular species delimitation approaches to provide a stable taxonomy for the Aegean green lizards. Mitochondrial gene trees, genetic cluster delimitation and population structure analyses converged into recognizing the populations of (a) L. pamphylica, (b) east Aegean islands, Anatolia and Thrace (diplochondrodes lineage), (c) central Aegean islands (citrovittata), and (d) remaining Balkan populations and islands (trilineata), as separate clusters. Phylogenomic analyses revealed a split into two major clades, east and west of the Aegean Barrier, unambiguously showing a sister–clade relationship between pamphylica and diplochondrodes, rendering L. trilineata paraphyletic. Species delimitation models were tested in a Bayesian framework using the genomic SNPs: lumping all populations into a single ‘species’ had the lowest likelihood but the current taxonomy was also outperformed by all other models. All lines of evidence support the Pamphylian green lizard as a valid species; thus, east Aegean L. trilineata should also be considered a distinct species under the name Lacerta diplochondrodes. Finally, evidence from the mitochondrial and nuclear genomes is overwhelmingly in favour of recognizing the morphologically distinct Cycladian green lizards as a distinct species. We propose their elevation to full species under the name Lacerta citrovittata. All remaining insular and continental populations of the Balkan Peninsula represent the species L. trilineata.
Main Authors: | Kornilios, Panagiotis, Thanou, Evanthia, Lymberakis, Petros, Ilgaz, Çetin, Kumlutas, Yusuf, Leaché, Adam |
---|---|
Other Authors: | National Institutes of Health (US) |
Format: | artículo biblioteca |
Published: |
John Wiley & Sons
2020-01
|
Subjects: | ddRAD, Lacertidae, Mediterranean, Molecular systematics, Taxonomy, |
Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/10261/207679 http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100000002 |
Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
Similar Items
-
Genome‐wide markers untangle the green‐lizard radiation in the Aegean Sea and support a rare biogeographical pattern
by: Kornilios, Panagiotis, et al.
Published: (2019-03) -
Hidden in the sand: Phylogenomics unravel an unexpected evolutionary history for the desert-adapted vipers of the genus Cerastes
by: Mochales-Riaño, Gabriel, et al.
Published: (2024-02) -
Species boundaries to the limit: Integrating species delimitation methods is critical to avoid taxonomic inflation in the case of the Hajar banded ground gecko (Trachydactylus hajarensis)
by: Burriel-Carranza, Bernat, et al.
Published: (2023-09) -
Quantitative analysis of connectivity in populations of a semi-aquatic mammal using kinship categories and network assortativity
by: Escoda, Lídia, et al.
Published: (2019-03) -
Genomic diversity and geographical structure of the Pyrenean desman
by: Querejeta Coma, Marina, et al.
Published: (2016-12)