Fernanda P Werneck | Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (original) (raw)

Papers by Fernanda P Werneck

Journal of thermal biology, 2018

Temperature increases can impact biodiversity and predicting their effects is one of the main cha... more Temperature increases can impact biodiversity and predicting their effects is one of the main challenges facing global climate-change research. Ectotherms are sensitive to temperature change and, although predictions indicate that tropical species are highly vulnerable to global warming, they remain one of the least studied groups with respect to the extent of physiological variation and local extinction risks. We model the extinction risks for a tropical heliothermic teiid lizard (Kentropyx calcarata) integrating previously obtained information on intraspecific phylogeographic structure, eco-physiological traits and contemporary species distributions in the Amazon rainforest and its ecotone to the Cerrado savannah. We also investigated how thermal-biology traits vary throughout the species' geographic range and the consequences of such variation for lineage vulnerability. We show substantial variation in thermal tolerance of individuals among thermally distinct sites. Thermal c...

A várzea corresponde a área inundada do sistema Amazonas-Solimões e seus afluentes e cobre de 1 a... more A várzea corresponde a área inundada do sistema Amazonas-Solimões e seus afluentes e cobre de 1 a 2% de toda a área da hiléia . A vegetação aquática flutuante constitui um importante sítio para as produções primária e secundária na região da várzea . Os bancos de herbáceas flutuantes possuem rica fauna aquática associada, constituindo biocenoses compostas por uma combinação variada de formas aquáticas, semi-aquáticas e terrestres (Adis e Junk, 2002;. As plantas são usadas pela fauna aquática associada como substrato e, em parte, também como fonte nutritiva.

The Cerrado is a wide Neotropical savanna with tremendously high endemic diversity. Yet, it is no... more The Cerrado is a wide Neotropical savanna with tremendously high endemic diversity. Yet, it is not clear what the prevalent processes leading to such diversification are. We used the Cerrado-endemic lizard Norops meridionalis to investigate the main abiotic factors that promoted genetic divergence, the timings of these divergence events, and how these relate to cryptic diversity in the group. We sequenced mitochondrial and nuclear genes from 21 sites of N. meridionalis to generate species tree, divergence time estimations, and estimate species limits. We also performed population-level analysis and estimated distribution models to test the roles of niche conservatism and divergence in the group diversification. We found that N. meridionalis is composed by at least five cryptic species. Divergence time estimations suggest that the deepest branches split back into the early-mid Miocene, when most of the geophysical activity of the Cerrado took place. The deep divergences found in N. meridionalis suggest that beta anoles invaded South America much earlier than previously thought. Recent published evidence supports this view, indicating that the Panama gap closed as early as 15 mya, allowing for an early invasion of Norops into South America. The spatial pattern of diversification within N. meridionalis follows a north-west–southeast direction, which is consistent across several species of vertebrates endemic to the Cerrado. Also, we found evidence for non-stationary isolation by distance, which occurs when genetic differentiation depends on space. Our preliminary data in two out of five lineages suggest that niche conservatism is an important mechanism that promoted geographic fragmentation in the group.

Evolution, 2012

The relative influence of Neogene geomorphological events and Quaternary climatic changes as caus... more The relative influence of Neogene geomorphological events and Quaternary climatic changes as causal mechanisms on Neotropical diversification remains largely speculative, as most divergence timing inferences are based on a single locus and have limited taxonomic or geographic sampling. To investigate these influences, we use a multilocus (two mitochondrial and 11 nuclear genes) range-wide sampling of Phyllopezus pollicaris, a gecko complex widely distributed across the poorly studied South American 'dry diagonal' biomes. Our approach couples traditional and model-based phylogeography with geospatial methods, and demonstrates Miocene diversification and limited influence of Pleistocene climatic fluctuations on P. pollicaris. Phylogeographic structure and distribution models highlight that persistence across multiple isolated regions shaped the diversification of this species complex.

PLoS ONE, 2014

The Great American Biotic Interchange (GABI) was greatly influenced by the completion of the Isth... more The Great American Biotic Interchange (GABI) was greatly influenced by the completion of the Isthmus of Panama and impacted the composition of modern faunal assemblages in the Americas. However, the contribution of preceding events has been comparatively less explored, even though early immigrants in the fossil records are evidence for waif dispersals. The cricetid rodents of the subfamily Sigmodontinae are a classic example of a species-rich South American radiation resulting from an early episode of North American invasion. Here, we provide a temporal and spatial framework to address key aspects of the historical biogeography and diversification of this diverse mammal group by using mitochondrial and nuclear DNA datasets coupled with methods of divergence time estimation, ancestral area reconstruction and comparative phylogenetics. Relaxed-clock time estimates indicate that divergence of the Sigmodontinae began in the middle-late Miocene (ca. 12-9 Ma). Dispersal-vicariance analyses point to the arrival of a single lineage of northern invaders with a widespread ancestral distribution and imply that the initial differentiation between Central and South America gave rise to the most basal groups within the subfamily. These two major clades diversified in the late Miocene followed by the radiation of main tribes until the early Pliocene. Within the Oryzomyalia, tribes diverged initially in eastern South America whereas multiple dispersals into the Andes promoted further diversification of the majority of modern genera. A comparatively uniform background tempo of diversification explains the species richness of sigmodontines across most nodes, except for two akodontine genera with recent increases in diversification rates. The bridging of the Central American seaway and episodes of low sea levels likely facilitated the invasion of South America long before the onset of the post-Isthmian phase of the GABI.

BMC Evolutionary Biology, 2015

Background: Phylogeographic research has advanced in South America, with increasing efforts on ta... more Background: Phylogeographic research has advanced in South America, with increasing efforts on taxa from the dry diagonal biomes. However, the diversification of endemic fauna from the semiarid Caatinga biome in northeastern Brazil is still poorly known. Here we targeted saxicolous lizards of the Tropidurus semitaeniatus species group to better understand the evolutionary history of these endemic taxa and the Caatinga. We estimated a time-calibrated phylogeny for the species group based on two mitochondrial and two nuclear genes and jointly estimated the species limits and species tree within the group. We also devoted a denser phylogeographic sampling of the T. semitaeniatus complex to explore migration patterns, and the spatiotemporal diffusion history to verify a possible role of the São Francisco River as a promoter of differentiation in this saxicolous group of lizards. Results: Phylogenetic analysis detected high cryptic genetic diversity, occurrence of unique microendemic lineages associated with older highlands, and a speciation history that took place during the Pliocene-Pleistocene transition. Species delimitation detected five evolutionary entities within the T. semitaeniatus species group, albeit with low support. Thus, additional data are needed for a more accurate definition of species limits and interspecific relationships within this group. Spatiotemporal analyses reconstructed the geographic origin of the T. semitaeniatus species complex to be located north of the present-day course of the São Francisco River, followed by dispersal that expanded its distribution towards the northwest and south. Gene flow estimates showed higher migration rates into the lineages located north of the São Francisco River. Conclusions: The phylogenetic and population structures are intrinsically associated with stable rock surfaces and landscape rearrangements, such as the establishment of drainage basins located to the northern and southern distribution ranges. The T. semitaeniatus complex preserved high genetic diversity during range expansion, possibly as a result of frequent long-distance dispersal events. Our results indicate that both the current course of the São Francisco River and its paleo-courses had an important role in promoting diversification of the Caatinga endemic T. semitaeniatus species group.

Brazilian Journal of Biology, 2006

pdbff.inpa.gov.br

1. INTRODUÇÃO Ecólogos de comunidades têm, há muito tempo, se interessado por questões como: quan... more 1. INTRODUÇÃO Ecólogos de comunidades têm, há muito tempo, se interessado por questões como: quantas espécies as comunidades podem suportar? Por que as comunidades possuem uma organização particular? Existem padrões previsíveis de co-ocorrência de espécies? ...

Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2014, 171, 206–225.

Vanzosaura rubricauda (Boulenger, 1902) is a small-bodied gymnophthalmid lizard widespread in dry... more Vanzosaura rubricauda (Boulenger, 1902) is a small-bodied gymnophthalmid lizard widespread in dry biomes of
South America. Throughout its distribution, V. rubricauda populations experience contrasting environmental
conditions, and a marked disjunction occurs in the central portion of the Cerrado biome. Previous studies indicate
that V. rubricauda may be a species complex, and here we used mitochondrial DNA data and external morphology
to test for population differentiation and its systematic implications for the genus. We found three geographically
cohesive groups recovered as well resolved, and strongly supported mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haploclades that
are differentiated with respect to morphometry, meristics, and colour pattern. In light of the observed differences,
we propose a new taxonomic rearrangement of the genus, where we: (1) restrict V. rubricauda to Chaco and
western Cerrado regions; (2) resurrect Vanzosaura multiscutata (Amaral, 1933) comb. nov. for Caatinga
populations; and (3) describe Vanzosaura savanicola sp. nov. for the eastern Cerrado region of Brazil. The new
species is diagnosed from its congeners by having longer limbs and tail, fewer smooth subcaudals, and genetic
distances ranging from 5 to 13%. The new species, along with other recent discoveries, highlights the Jalapão-Serra
Geral region as one of the most important areas of endemism for Cerrado squamates.

Global Ecology and …, 2011

Aim To investigate the potential distribution of Seasonally Dry Tropical Forests (SDTFs) during t... more Aim To investigate the potential distribution of Seasonally Dry Tropical Forests (SDTFs) during the Quaternary climatic fluctuations; to reassess the formerly proposed 'Pleistocenic arc hypothesis' (PAH); and to identify historically stable and unstable areas of SDTF distributions in the light of palaeodistribution modelling. Location SDTFs in lowland cis-Andean eastern-central South America.

PloS one, 2014

The Great American Biotic Interchange (GABI) was greatly influenced by the completion of the Isth... more The Great American Biotic Interchange (GABI) was greatly influenced by the completion of the Isthmus of Panama and impacted the composition of modern faunal assemblages in the Americas. However, the contribution of preceding events has been comparatively less explored, even though early immigrants in the fossil records are evidence for waif dispersals. The cricetid rodents of the subfamily Sigmodontinae are a classic example of a species-rich South American radiation resulting from an early episode of North American invasion. Here, we provide a temporal and spatial framework to address key aspects of the historical biogeography and diversification of this diverse mammal group by using mitochondrial and nuclear DNA datasets coupled with methods of divergence time estimation, ancestral area reconstruction and comparative phylogenetics. Relaxed-clock time estimates indicate that divergence of the Sigmodontinae began in the middle-late Miocene (ca. 12-9 Ma). Dispersal-vicariance analyse...

Evolution, 2012

The relative influence of Neogene geomorphological events and Quaternary climatic changes as caus... more The relative influence of Neogene geomorphological events and Quaternary climatic changes as causal mechanisms on Neotropical diversification remains largely speculative, as most divergence timing inferences are based on a single locus and have limited taxonomic or geographic sampling. To investigate these influences, we use a multilocus (two mitochondrial and 11 nuclear genes) range-wide sampling of Phyllopezus pollicaris, a gecko complex widely distributed across the poorly studied South American 'dry diagonal' biomes. Our approach couples traditional and model-based phylogeography with geospatial methods, and demonstrates Miocene diversification and limited influence of Pleistocene climatic fluctuations on P. pollicaris. Phylogeographic structure and distribution models highlight that persistence across multiple isolated regions shaped the diversification of this species complex.

Journal of Biogeography, 2012

Aim To investigate the historical distribution of the Cerrado across Quaternary climatic fluctuat... more Aim To investigate the historical distribution of the Cerrado across Quaternary climatic fluctuations and to generate historical stability maps to test: (1) whether the 'historical climate' stability hypothesis explains squamate reptile richness in the Cerrado; and (2) the hypothesis of Pleistocene connections between savannas located north and south of Amazonia.

Global Ecology and Biogeography, 2011

Aim To investigate the potential distribution of Seasonally Dry Tropical Forests (SDTFs) during t... more Aim To investigate the potential distribution of Seasonally Dry Tropical Forests (SDTFs) during the Quaternary climatic fluctuations; to reassess the formerly proposed 'Pleistocenic arc hypothesis' (PAH); and to identify historically stable and unstable areas of SDTF distributions in the light of palaeodistribution modelling. Location SDTFs in lowland cis-Andean eastern-central South America.

Biotropica, 2013

We investigate the role of ecology and phylogeny in the association between lizard abundance and ... more We investigate the role of ecology and phylogeny in the association between lizard abundance and microhabitat variables in an Amazon rain forest site. Using pitfall trap arrays, we collected data from 349 individuals belonging to 23 lizard species. After accounting for spatial autocorrelation and using a canonical correspondence analysis (CCA), we found that lizard captures were significantly associated with microhabitat variables, which accounted for 48 percent of the observed variation. Furthermore, a canonical phylogenetic ordination (CPO) indicated that microhabitat variables are more important in determining the distribution of lizard species than phylogenetic relationships among species. Termite nests, canopy openness, and tree circumference were strongly associated with the number of captures of certain lizard species. Our results confirm autecology studies of individual lizard species for which data are available. We suggest that maintaining heterogeneous forested microhabitats should be a central goal for sustaining a high lizard biodiversity in Amazon rain forests.

Journal of Herpetology, 2012

Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 2012

The gecko genus Phyllopezus occurs across South America's open biomes: Cerrado, Seasonally Dry Tr... more The gecko genus Phyllopezus occurs across South America's open biomes: Cerrado, Seasonally Dry Tropical Forests (SDTF, including Caatinga), and Chaco. We generated a multi-gene dataset and estimated phylogenetic relationships among described Phyllopezus taxa and related species. We included exemplars from both described Phyllopezus pollicaris subspecies, P. p. pollicaris and P. p. przewalskii. Phylogenies from the concatenated data as well as species trees constructed from individual gene trees were largely congruent. All phylogeny reconstruction methods showed Bogertia lutzae as the sister species of Phyllopezus maranjonensis, rendering Phyllopezus paraphyletic. We synonymized the monotypic genus Bogertia with Phyllopezus to maintain a taxonomy that is isomorphic with phylogenetic history. We recovered multiple, deeply divergent, cryptic lineages within P. pollicaris. These cryptic lineages possessed mtDNA distances equivalent to distances among other gekkotan sister taxa. Described P. pollicaris subspecies are not reciprocally monophyletic and current subspecific taxonomy does not accurately reflect evolutionary relationships among cryptic lineages. We highlight the conservation significance of these results in light of the ongoing habitat loss in South America's open biomes.

Molecular Ecology, 2013

Until recently, most phylogeographic approaches have been unable to distinguish between demograph... more Until recently, most phylogeographic approaches have been unable to distinguish between demographic and range expansion processes, making it difficult to test for the possibility of range expansion without population growth and vice versa. In this study, we applied a Bayesian phylogeographic approach to reconstruct both demographic and range expansion in the lizard Liolaemus darwinii of the Monte Desert in Central Argentina, during the Late Quaternary. Based on analysis of 14 anonymous nuclear loci and the cytochrome b mitochondrial DNA gene, we detected signals of demographic expansion starting at~55 ka based on Bayesian Skyline and Skyride Plots. In contrast, Bayesian relaxed models of spatial diffusion suggested that range expansion occurred only between~95 and 55 ka, and more recently, diffusion rates were very low during demographic expansion. The possibility of population growth without substantial range expansion could account for the shared patterns of demographic expansion during the Last Glacial Maxima (OIS 2 and 4) in fish, small mammals and other lizards of the Monte Desert. We found substantial variation in diffusion rates over time, and very high rates during the range expansion phase, consistent with a rapidly advancing expansion front towards the southeast shown by palaeo-distribution models. Furthermore, the estimated diffusion rates are congruent with observed dispersal rates of lizards in field conditions and therefore provide additional confidence to the temporal scale of inferred phylogeographic patterns. Our study highlights how the integration of phylogeography with palaeo-distribution models can shed light on both demographic and range expansion processes and their potential causes.

Journal of thermal biology, 2018

Temperature increases can impact biodiversity and predicting their effects is one of the main cha... more Temperature increases can impact biodiversity and predicting their effects is one of the main challenges facing global climate-change research. Ectotherms are sensitive to temperature change and, although predictions indicate that tropical species are highly vulnerable to global warming, they remain one of the least studied groups with respect to the extent of physiological variation and local extinction risks. We model the extinction risks for a tropical heliothermic teiid lizard (Kentropyx calcarata) integrating previously obtained information on intraspecific phylogeographic structure, eco-physiological traits and contemporary species distributions in the Amazon rainforest and its ecotone to the Cerrado savannah. We also investigated how thermal-biology traits vary throughout the species' geographic range and the consequences of such variation for lineage vulnerability. We show substantial variation in thermal tolerance of individuals among thermally distinct sites. Thermal c...

A várzea corresponde a área inundada do sistema Amazonas-Solimões e seus afluentes e cobre de 1 a... more A várzea corresponde a área inundada do sistema Amazonas-Solimões e seus afluentes e cobre de 1 a 2% de toda a área da hiléia . A vegetação aquática flutuante constitui um importante sítio para as produções primária e secundária na região da várzea . Os bancos de herbáceas flutuantes possuem rica fauna aquática associada, constituindo biocenoses compostas por uma combinação variada de formas aquáticas, semi-aquáticas e terrestres (Adis e Junk, 2002;. As plantas são usadas pela fauna aquática associada como substrato e, em parte, também como fonte nutritiva.

The Cerrado is a wide Neotropical savanna with tremendously high endemic diversity. Yet, it is no... more The Cerrado is a wide Neotropical savanna with tremendously high endemic diversity. Yet, it is not clear what the prevalent processes leading to such diversification are. We used the Cerrado-endemic lizard Norops meridionalis to investigate the main abiotic factors that promoted genetic divergence, the timings of these divergence events, and how these relate to cryptic diversity in the group. We sequenced mitochondrial and nuclear genes from 21 sites of N. meridionalis to generate species tree, divergence time estimations, and estimate species limits. We also performed population-level analysis and estimated distribution models to test the roles of niche conservatism and divergence in the group diversification. We found that N. meridionalis is composed by at least five cryptic species. Divergence time estimations suggest that the deepest branches split back into the early-mid Miocene, when most of the geophysical activity of the Cerrado took place. The deep divergences found in N. meridionalis suggest that beta anoles invaded South America much earlier than previously thought. Recent published evidence supports this view, indicating that the Panama gap closed as early as 15 mya, allowing for an early invasion of Norops into South America. The spatial pattern of diversification within N. meridionalis follows a north-west–southeast direction, which is consistent across several species of vertebrates endemic to the Cerrado. Also, we found evidence for non-stationary isolation by distance, which occurs when genetic differentiation depends on space. Our preliminary data in two out of five lineages suggest that niche conservatism is an important mechanism that promoted geographic fragmentation in the group.

Evolution, 2012

The relative influence of Neogene geomorphological events and Quaternary climatic changes as caus... more The relative influence of Neogene geomorphological events and Quaternary climatic changes as causal mechanisms on Neotropical diversification remains largely speculative, as most divergence timing inferences are based on a single locus and have limited taxonomic or geographic sampling. To investigate these influences, we use a multilocus (two mitochondrial and 11 nuclear genes) range-wide sampling of Phyllopezus pollicaris, a gecko complex widely distributed across the poorly studied South American 'dry diagonal' biomes. Our approach couples traditional and model-based phylogeography with geospatial methods, and demonstrates Miocene diversification and limited influence of Pleistocene climatic fluctuations on P. pollicaris. Phylogeographic structure and distribution models highlight that persistence across multiple isolated regions shaped the diversification of this species complex.

PLoS ONE, 2014

The Great American Biotic Interchange (GABI) was greatly influenced by the completion of the Isth... more The Great American Biotic Interchange (GABI) was greatly influenced by the completion of the Isthmus of Panama and impacted the composition of modern faunal assemblages in the Americas. However, the contribution of preceding events has been comparatively less explored, even though early immigrants in the fossil records are evidence for waif dispersals. The cricetid rodents of the subfamily Sigmodontinae are a classic example of a species-rich South American radiation resulting from an early episode of North American invasion. Here, we provide a temporal and spatial framework to address key aspects of the historical biogeography and diversification of this diverse mammal group by using mitochondrial and nuclear DNA datasets coupled with methods of divergence time estimation, ancestral area reconstruction and comparative phylogenetics. Relaxed-clock time estimates indicate that divergence of the Sigmodontinae began in the middle-late Miocene (ca. 12-9 Ma). Dispersal-vicariance analyses point to the arrival of a single lineage of northern invaders with a widespread ancestral distribution and imply that the initial differentiation between Central and South America gave rise to the most basal groups within the subfamily. These two major clades diversified in the late Miocene followed by the radiation of main tribes until the early Pliocene. Within the Oryzomyalia, tribes diverged initially in eastern South America whereas multiple dispersals into the Andes promoted further diversification of the majority of modern genera. A comparatively uniform background tempo of diversification explains the species richness of sigmodontines across most nodes, except for two akodontine genera with recent increases in diversification rates. The bridging of the Central American seaway and episodes of low sea levels likely facilitated the invasion of South America long before the onset of the post-Isthmian phase of the GABI.

BMC Evolutionary Biology, 2015

Background: Phylogeographic research has advanced in South America, with increasing efforts on ta... more Background: Phylogeographic research has advanced in South America, with increasing efforts on taxa from the dry diagonal biomes. However, the diversification of endemic fauna from the semiarid Caatinga biome in northeastern Brazil is still poorly known. Here we targeted saxicolous lizards of the Tropidurus semitaeniatus species group to better understand the evolutionary history of these endemic taxa and the Caatinga. We estimated a time-calibrated phylogeny for the species group based on two mitochondrial and two nuclear genes and jointly estimated the species limits and species tree within the group. We also devoted a denser phylogeographic sampling of the T. semitaeniatus complex to explore migration patterns, and the spatiotemporal diffusion history to verify a possible role of the São Francisco River as a promoter of differentiation in this saxicolous group of lizards. Results: Phylogenetic analysis detected high cryptic genetic diversity, occurrence of unique microendemic lineages associated with older highlands, and a speciation history that took place during the Pliocene-Pleistocene transition. Species delimitation detected five evolutionary entities within the T. semitaeniatus species group, albeit with low support. Thus, additional data are needed for a more accurate definition of species limits and interspecific relationships within this group. Spatiotemporal analyses reconstructed the geographic origin of the T. semitaeniatus species complex to be located north of the present-day course of the São Francisco River, followed by dispersal that expanded its distribution towards the northwest and south. Gene flow estimates showed higher migration rates into the lineages located north of the São Francisco River. Conclusions: The phylogenetic and population structures are intrinsically associated with stable rock surfaces and landscape rearrangements, such as the establishment of drainage basins located to the northern and southern distribution ranges. The T. semitaeniatus complex preserved high genetic diversity during range expansion, possibly as a result of frequent long-distance dispersal events. Our results indicate that both the current course of the São Francisco River and its paleo-courses had an important role in promoting diversification of the Caatinga endemic T. semitaeniatus species group.

Brazilian Journal of Biology, 2006

pdbff.inpa.gov.br

1. INTRODUÇÃO Ecólogos de comunidades têm, há muito tempo, se interessado por questões como: quan... more 1. INTRODUÇÃO Ecólogos de comunidades têm, há muito tempo, se interessado por questões como: quantas espécies as comunidades podem suportar? Por que as comunidades possuem uma organização particular? Existem padrões previsíveis de co-ocorrência de espécies? ...

Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2014, 171, 206–225.

Vanzosaura rubricauda (Boulenger, 1902) is a small-bodied gymnophthalmid lizard widespread in dry... more Vanzosaura rubricauda (Boulenger, 1902) is a small-bodied gymnophthalmid lizard widespread in dry biomes of
South America. Throughout its distribution, V. rubricauda populations experience contrasting environmental
conditions, and a marked disjunction occurs in the central portion of the Cerrado biome. Previous studies indicate
that V. rubricauda may be a species complex, and here we used mitochondrial DNA data and external morphology
to test for population differentiation and its systematic implications for the genus. We found three geographically
cohesive groups recovered as well resolved, and strongly supported mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haploclades that
are differentiated with respect to morphometry, meristics, and colour pattern. In light of the observed differences,
we propose a new taxonomic rearrangement of the genus, where we: (1) restrict V. rubricauda to Chaco and
western Cerrado regions; (2) resurrect Vanzosaura multiscutata (Amaral, 1933) comb. nov. for Caatinga
populations; and (3) describe Vanzosaura savanicola sp. nov. for the eastern Cerrado region of Brazil. The new
species is diagnosed from its congeners by having longer limbs and tail, fewer smooth subcaudals, and genetic
distances ranging from 5 to 13%. The new species, along with other recent discoveries, highlights the Jalapão-Serra
Geral region as one of the most important areas of endemism for Cerrado squamates.

Global Ecology and …, 2011

Aim To investigate the potential distribution of Seasonally Dry Tropical Forests (SDTFs) during t... more Aim To investigate the potential distribution of Seasonally Dry Tropical Forests (SDTFs) during the Quaternary climatic fluctuations; to reassess the formerly proposed 'Pleistocenic arc hypothesis' (PAH); and to identify historically stable and unstable areas of SDTF distributions in the light of palaeodistribution modelling. Location SDTFs in lowland cis-Andean eastern-central South America.

PloS one, 2014

The Great American Biotic Interchange (GABI) was greatly influenced by the completion of the Isth... more The Great American Biotic Interchange (GABI) was greatly influenced by the completion of the Isthmus of Panama and impacted the composition of modern faunal assemblages in the Americas. However, the contribution of preceding events has been comparatively less explored, even though early immigrants in the fossil records are evidence for waif dispersals. The cricetid rodents of the subfamily Sigmodontinae are a classic example of a species-rich South American radiation resulting from an early episode of North American invasion. Here, we provide a temporal and spatial framework to address key aspects of the historical biogeography and diversification of this diverse mammal group by using mitochondrial and nuclear DNA datasets coupled with methods of divergence time estimation, ancestral area reconstruction and comparative phylogenetics. Relaxed-clock time estimates indicate that divergence of the Sigmodontinae began in the middle-late Miocene (ca. 12-9 Ma). Dispersal-vicariance analyse...

Evolution, 2012

The relative influence of Neogene geomorphological events and Quaternary climatic changes as caus... more The relative influence of Neogene geomorphological events and Quaternary climatic changes as causal mechanisms on Neotropical diversification remains largely speculative, as most divergence timing inferences are based on a single locus and have limited taxonomic or geographic sampling. To investigate these influences, we use a multilocus (two mitochondrial and 11 nuclear genes) range-wide sampling of Phyllopezus pollicaris, a gecko complex widely distributed across the poorly studied South American 'dry diagonal' biomes. Our approach couples traditional and model-based phylogeography with geospatial methods, and demonstrates Miocene diversification and limited influence of Pleistocene climatic fluctuations on P. pollicaris. Phylogeographic structure and distribution models highlight that persistence across multiple isolated regions shaped the diversification of this species complex.

Journal of Biogeography, 2012

Aim To investigate the historical distribution of the Cerrado across Quaternary climatic fluctuat... more Aim To investigate the historical distribution of the Cerrado across Quaternary climatic fluctuations and to generate historical stability maps to test: (1) whether the 'historical climate' stability hypothesis explains squamate reptile richness in the Cerrado; and (2) the hypothesis of Pleistocene connections between savannas located north and south of Amazonia.

Global Ecology and Biogeography, 2011

Aim To investigate the potential distribution of Seasonally Dry Tropical Forests (SDTFs) during t... more Aim To investigate the potential distribution of Seasonally Dry Tropical Forests (SDTFs) during the Quaternary climatic fluctuations; to reassess the formerly proposed 'Pleistocenic arc hypothesis' (PAH); and to identify historically stable and unstable areas of SDTF distributions in the light of palaeodistribution modelling. Location SDTFs in lowland cis-Andean eastern-central South America.

Biotropica, 2013

We investigate the role of ecology and phylogeny in the association between lizard abundance and ... more We investigate the role of ecology and phylogeny in the association between lizard abundance and microhabitat variables in an Amazon rain forest site. Using pitfall trap arrays, we collected data from 349 individuals belonging to 23 lizard species. After accounting for spatial autocorrelation and using a canonical correspondence analysis (CCA), we found that lizard captures were significantly associated with microhabitat variables, which accounted for 48 percent of the observed variation. Furthermore, a canonical phylogenetic ordination (CPO) indicated that microhabitat variables are more important in determining the distribution of lizard species than phylogenetic relationships among species. Termite nests, canopy openness, and tree circumference were strongly associated with the number of captures of certain lizard species. Our results confirm autecology studies of individual lizard species for which data are available. We suggest that maintaining heterogeneous forested microhabitats should be a central goal for sustaining a high lizard biodiversity in Amazon rain forests.

Journal of Herpetology, 2012

Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 2012

The gecko genus Phyllopezus occurs across South America's open biomes: Cerrado, Seasonally Dry Tr... more The gecko genus Phyllopezus occurs across South America's open biomes: Cerrado, Seasonally Dry Tropical Forests (SDTF, including Caatinga), and Chaco. We generated a multi-gene dataset and estimated phylogenetic relationships among described Phyllopezus taxa and related species. We included exemplars from both described Phyllopezus pollicaris subspecies, P. p. pollicaris and P. p. przewalskii. Phylogenies from the concatenated data as well as species trees constructed from individual gene trees were largely congruent. All phylogeny reconstruction methods showed Bogertia lutzae as the sister species of Phyllopezus maranjonensis, rendering Phyllopezus paraphyletic. We synonymized the monotypic genus Bogertia with Phyllopezus to maintain a taxonomy that is isomorphic with phylogenetic history. We recovered multiple, deeply divergent, cryptic lineages within P. pollicaris. These cryptic lineages possessed mtDNA distances equivalent to distances among other gekkotan sister taxa. Described P. pollicaris subspecies are not reciprocally monophyletic and current subspecific taxonomy does not accurately reflect evolutionary relationships among cryptic lineages. We highlight the conservation significance of these results in light of the ongoing habitat loss in South America's open biomes.

Molecular Ecology, 2013

Until recently, most phylogeographic approaches have been unable to distinguish between demograph... more Until recently, most phylogeographic approaches have been unable to distinguish between demographic and range expansion processes, making it difficult to test for the possibility of range expansion without population growth and vice versa. In this study, we applied a Bayesian phylogeographic approach to reconstruct both demographic and range expansion in the lizard Liolaemus darwinii of the Monte Desert in Central Argentina, during the Late Quaternary. Based on analysis of 14 anonymous nuclear loci and the cytochrome b mitochondrial DNA gene, we detected signals of demographic expansion starting at~55 ka based on Bayesian Skyline and Skyride Plots. In contrast, Bayesian relaxed models of spatial diffusion suggested that range expansion occurred only between~95 and 55 ka, and more recently, diffusion rates were very low during demographic expansion. The possibility of population growth without substantial range expansion could account for the shared patterns of demographic expansion during the Last Glacial Maxima (OIS 2 and 4) in fish, small mammals and other lizards of the Monte Desert. We found substantial variation in diffusion rates over time, and very high rates during the range expansion phase, consistent with a rapidly advancing expansion front towards the southeast shown by palaeo-distribution models. Furthermore, the estimated diffusion rates are congruent with observed dispersal rates of lizards in field conditions and therefore provide additional confidence to the temporal scale of inferred phylogeographic patterns. Our study highlights how the integration of phylogeography with palaeo-distribution models can shed light on both demographic and range expansion processes and their potential causes.

Dissertation, 2021

A base filogenética das comunidades de lagartos na Amazônia brasileira foi explorada em três esca... more A base filogenética das comunidades de lagartos na Amazônia brasileira foi explorada em três escalas espaciais (estrutura geológica, áreas de endemismo e margens dos rios) e no nível intraespecífico, a fim de entender: como as comunidades estão estruturadas filogeneticamente, quais os processos subjacentes aos padrões de estruturação observados, como as comunidades estão filogeneticamente relacionadas e se os rios poderiam ter atuado como barreira causando a divergência e/ou delimitando a distribuição das linhagens de lagartos. Nas estruturas geológicas a Bacia Sedimentar Amazônica e o Escudo das Guianas mostraram padrão filogeneticamente agrupado, indicando que a maior parte das linhagens presentes nesses locais diversificaram na região onde ocorrem; no Escudo Brasileiro o padrão observado foi de dispersão filogenética, indicando que a região foi colonizada por muitas linhagens que não ocorrem em outras regiões da Amazônia brasileira. Nas áreas de endemismo as comunidades apresentaram padrões distintos de estruturação filogenética (agrupamento, dispersão e aleatório), indicando que nessa escala as comunidades foram estruturadas tanto por processos ecológicos quanto por processos históricos. Nas margens dos rios a maioria das comunidades apresentou padrão de dispersão filogenética, indicando que elas foram estruturadas predominantemente pela competição; somente uma comunidade apresentou padrão filogeneticamente agrupado, indicando que os filtros ambientais foram mais importantes na sua estruturação. As relações filogenéticas entre as comunidades indicam que a Bacia Sedimentar Amazônica apresenta um maior compartilhamento de linhagens ancestrais com o Escudo Brasileiro e um maior compartilhamento de linhagens recentes com o Escudo das Guianas. As relações entre as áreas de endemismo mostram uma quebra ancestral entre o noroeste (Imeri e Napo) e o restante da Amazônia; bem como Tapajós e Rondônia filogeneticamente mais distante de todas as outras áreas de endemismo, principalmente no compartilhamento de linhagens mais recentes. Para a estrutura mais antiga das margens dos rios foi recuperado um padrão de quebra leste-oeste, seguido por uma quebra norte-sul. Além disso, para a estrutura mais recente as linhagens que ocorrem nas margens opostas de um mesmo rio estão filogeneticamente mais relacionadas entre si do que com as linhagens que ocorrem nas margens de outros rios; exceto para os rios Trombetas e Jatapu. Esses resultados mostram que diferentes rios parecem ter atuado como barreiras diversificadoras ou delimitadoras de distribuição para diferentes espécies, reflexo da complexidade da paisagem amazônica e das características intrínsecas de cada espécie; dessa forma, um padrão de diversificação que possa ser generalizado para todos os lagartos da Amazônia não pode ser inferido. Por fim, embora não tenha sido objetivo desse estudo, foi observada a existência de potenciais espécies ainda não descritas e de espécies já descritas mas com registros de ocorrência ainda não descritos na literatura para a região amostrada, reforçando o quão subestimada é e o quanto há para conhecer sobre a diversidade de lagartos na Amazônia brasileira.