Epigean gammarids survived millions of years of severe climatic fluctuations in high latitude refugia throughout the Western Carpathians

COPILAȘ-CIOCIANU, Denis, Tereza RUTHOVÁ, Petr PAŘIL and Adam PETRUSEK. Epigean gammarids survived millions of years of severe climatic fluctuations in high latitude refugia throughout the Western Carpathians. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. San Diego, USA: ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE, 2017, vol. 112, July, p. 218-229. ISSN 1055-7903. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2017.04.027.

Basic information

• Original name: Epigean gammarids survived millions of years of severe climatic fluctuations in high latitude refugia throughout the Western Carpathians
• Authors: COPILAȘ-CIOCIANU, Denis (642 Romania), Tereza RUTHOVÁ (203 Czech Republic), Petr PAŘIL (203 Czech Republic, guarantor, belonging to the institution) and Adam PETRUSEK (203 Czech Republic).
• Edition: Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, San Diego, USA, ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE, 2017, 1055-7903.

Other information

• Original language: English
• Type of outcome: Article in a journal
• Field of Study: 10603 Genetics and heredity
• Country of publisher: Netherlands
• Confidentiality degree: is not subject to a state or trade secret
• WWW: URL
• Impact factor: Impact factor: 4.412
• RIV identification code: RIV/00216224:14310/17:00096680
• Organization unit: Faculty of Science
• Doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2017.04.027
• UT WoS: 000403194300020
• Keywords (in Czech): Biogeografická bariéra; Kryptická diverzita; Endemičnost; Gammarus fossarum; Severní refugium; Fylogeneze
• Keywords in English: Biogeographical barrier; Cryptic diversity; Endemicity; Gammarus fossarum; Northern refugium; Phylogeny
• Tags: NZ, rivok
• Tags: International impact, Reviewed

Abstract

Isolated glacial refugia have been documented in Central Europe for a number of taxa, but conclusive evidence for epigean aquatic species has remained elusive. Using molecular data (mitochondrial and nuclear markers), we compared the spatial patterns of lineage diversity of the widely distributed Gammarus fossarum species complex between two adjacent biogeographically and geomorphologically distinct Central European regions: the Bohemian Massif and the Western Carpathians. We investigated if the observed patterns of spatial diversity are more likely to stem from historical or present-day factors. Phylogenetic and phylogeographic analyses revealed eight phylogenetically diverse lineages: two exhibiting local signatures of recent demographic expansion inhabit both regions, while the other six display a relict distributional pattern and are found only in the Western Carpathians. Molecular dating indicates that these lineages are old and probably diverged throughout the Miocene (7–18 Ma). Furthermore, their distribution does not seem to be constrained by the present boundaries of river catchments or topography. The contrasting spatial patterns of diversity observed between the two regions thus more likely result from historical rather than contemporaneous or recent factors. Our results indicate that despite the high latitude and proximity to the Pleistocene ice sheets, the Western Carpathians functioned as long-term glacial refugia for permanent freshwater fauna, allowing the uninterrupted survival of ancient lineages through millions of years of drastic climatic fluctuations.