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Miguel Vences - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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phylogenomic inference of species and subspecies diversity in the palearctic salamander genus Salamandra
Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 2020Co-Authors: James D Burgon, Sebastian Steinfartz, Miguel Vences, Guillermo Veloanton, Serge Bogaerts, Lucio Bonato, David Donairebarroso, Inigo Martinezsolano, David R Vieites, Barbara K MableAbstract:Abstract The salamander genus Salamandra is widespread across Europe, North Africa, and the Near East and is renowned for its conspicuous and polymorphic colouration and diversity of reproductive modes. The phylogenetic relationships within the genus, and especially among the highly polymorphic species S. Salamandra, have been very challenging to elucidate, leaving its real evolutionary history and classification at species and subspecies levels a topic of debate and contention. However, the distribution of diversity and species delimitation within the genus are critically important for identifying evolutionarily significant units for conservation and management, especially in light of threats posed by the pathogenic chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans that is causing massive declines of S. Salamandra populations in central Europe. Here, we conducted a phylogenomic analysis from across the taxonomic and geographic breadth of the genus Salamandra in its entire range. Bayesian, maximum likelihood and network-based phylogenetic analyses of up to 4,905 ddRADseq-loci (294,300 nucleotides of sequence) supported the distinctiveness of all currently recognised species (Salamandra algira, S. atra, S. corsica, S. infraimmaculata, S. lanzai, and S. Salamandra), and all five species for which we have multiple exemplars were confirmed as monophyletic. Within S. Salamandra, two main clades can be distinguished: one clade with the Apenninic subspecies S. s. gigliolii nested within the Iberian S. s. bernardezi/fastuosa; the second clade comprising all other Iberian, Central and East European subspecies. Our analyses revealed that some of the currently recognized subspecies of S. Salamandra are paraphyletic and may require taxonomic revision, with the Central- and Eastern-European subspecies all being poorly differentiated in the analysed genomic markers. Salamandra s. longirostris – sometimes considered a separate species – was nested within S. Salamandra, consistent with its subspecies status. The relationships identified within and between Salamandra species provide valuable context for future systematic and biogeographic studies, and help elucidate critical evolutionary units for conservation and taxonomy.
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Phylogenomic inference of species and subspecies diversity in the Palearctic salamander genus Salamandra.
Molecular phylogenetics and evolution, 2020Co-Authors: James D Burgon, Guillermo Velo-antón, Sebastian Steinfartz, Miguel Vences, Serge Bogaerts, Lucio Bonato, David R Vieites, David Donaire-barroso, Iñigo Martínez-solano, Barbara K MableAbstract:Abstract The salamander genus Salamandra is widespread across Europe, North Africa, and the Near East and is renowned for its conspicuous and polymorphic colouration and diversity of reproductive modes. The phylogenetic relationships within the genus, and especially in the highly polymorphic species S. Salamandra, have been very challenging to elucidate, leaving its real evolutionary history and classification at species and subspecies levels a topic of debate and contention. However, the distribution of diversity and species delimitation within the genus are critically important for identifying evolutionarily significant units for conservation and management, especially in light of threats posed by the pathogenic chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans that is causing massive declines of S. Salamandra populations in central Europe. Here, we conducted a phylogenomic analysis from across the taxonomic and geographic breadth of the genus Salamandra in its entire range. Bayesian, maximum likelihood and network-based phylogenetic analyses of up to 4905 ddRADseq-loci (294,300 nucleotides of sequence) supported the distinctiveness of all currently recognised species (Salamandra algira, S. atra, S. corsica, S. infraimmaculata, S. lanzai, and S. Salamandra), and all five species for which we have multiple exemplars were confirmed as monophyletic. Within S. Salamandra, two main clades can be distinguished: one clade with the Apenninic subspecies S. s. gigliolii nested within the Iberian S. s. bernardezi/fastuosa; and a second clade comprising all other Iberian, Central and East European subspecies. Our analyses revealed that some of the currently recognized subspecies of S. Salamandra are paraphyletic and may require taxonomic revision, with the Central- and Eastern-European subspecies all being poorly differentiated at the analysed genomic markers. Salamandra s. longirostris – sometimes considered a separate species – was nested within S. Salamandra, consistent with its subspecies status. The relationships identified within and between Salamandra species provide valuable context for future systematic and biogeographic studies, and help elucidate critical evolutionary units for conservation and taxonomy.
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Isolation and Identification of Alkaloids from Poisons of Fire Salamanders (Salamandra Salamandra)
Journal of natural products, 2019Co-Authors: Janosch Knepper, Miguel Vences, Tim Lüddecke, Kathleen Preißler, Stefan SchulzAbstract:Fire salamanders ( Salamandra Salamandra) are conspicuously colored amphibians secreting a skin poison that contains unique steroid alkaloids such as samandarine (1) and samadarone (2), exhibiting toxic as well as antimicrobial activities. Because of their antipredatory and anti-infectious functions, alkaloids from Salamandra poison are of interest with regard to the threat that the lethal fungus Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans ( Bsal) poses to salamanders. Nevertheless, reliable data on the biological activity of Salamandra alkaloids are scarce, in part due to the difficulty to obtain and study those substances. Thus, isolation of pure salamander alkaloids is an important task that might directly contribute to the understanding of Bsal infections. Here we present a noninvasive isolation procedure for samandarine (1) and O-acetylsamandarine (3), as well as for two new alkaloids, O-3-hydroxybutanoylsamandarine (4) and samanone (6), using HPLC. For the first time, high-field NMR data are presented for these alkaloids. Analysis using GC/MS and ESI+-MS, provided important information on the structural variability of these salamander alkaloids.
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Experimental set up.
2019Co-Authors: Joana Sabino-pinto, Frank Pasmans, An Martel, Sebastian Steinfartz, Miguel VencesAbstract:Experimental set up for pooled extraction of: a) Experiment 1, for Salamandra Salamandra; and b) Experiment 2, for Alytes obstetricans, Cynops pyrrhogaster, Ichthyosaura alpestris, Lissotriton helveticus, Pachyhynobius shangchengensis, and Tylototriton wenxianensis. Swabs were pooled in groups of one to four swabs (pool size) with one swab per pool being inoculated with zoospores (inoculation load) (with the exception of the controls). Load in zoospores per swab.
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Isolation and Identification of Alkaloids from Poisons of Fire Salamanders (Salamandra Salamandra)
2019Co-Authors: Janosch Knepper, Miguel Vences, Kathleen Preißler, Tim Lüddecke, Stefan SchulzAbstract:Fire salamanders (Salamandra Salamandra) are conspicuously colored amphibians secreting a skin poison that contains unique steroid alkaloids such as samandarine (1) and samadarone (2), exhibiting toxic as well as antimicrobial activities. Because of their antipredatory and anti-infectious functions, alkaloids from Salamandra poison are of interest with regard to the threat that the lethal fungus Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal) poses to salamanders. Nevertheless, reliable data on the biological activity of Salamandra alkaloids are scarce, in part due to the difficulty to obtain and study those substances. Thus, isolation of pure salamander alkaloids is an important task that might directly contribute to the understanding of Bsal infections. Here we present a noninvasive isolation procedure for samandarine (1) and O-acetylsamandarine (3), as well as for two new alkaloids, O-3-hydroxybutanoylsamandarine (4) and samanone (6), using HPLC. For the first time, high-field NMR data are presented for these alkaloids. Analysis using GC/MS and ESI+-MS, provided important information on the structural variability of these salamander alkaloids
Sebastian Steinfartz - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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phylogenomic inference of species and subspecies diversity in the palearctic salamander genus Salamandra
Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 2020Co-Authors: James D Burgon, Sebastian Steinfartz, Miguel Vences, Guillermo Veloanton, Serge Bogaerts, Lucio Bonato, David Donairebarroso, Inigo Martinezsolano, David R Vieites, Barbara K MableAbstract:Abstract The salamander genus Salamandra is widespread across Europe, North Africa, and the Near East and is renowned for its conspicuous and polymorphic colouration and diversity of reproductive modes. The phylogenetic relationships within the genus, and especially among the highly polymorphic species S. Salamandra, have been very challenging to elucidate, leaving its real evolutionary history and classification at species and subspecies levels a topic of debate and contention. However, the distribution of diversity and species delimitation within the genus are critically important for identifying evolutionarily significant units for conservation and management, especially in light of threats posed by the pathogenic chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans that is causing massive declines of S. Salamandra populations in central Europe. Here, we conducted a phylogenomic analysis from across the taxonomic and geographic breadth of the genus Salamandra in its entire range. Bayesian, maximum likelihood and network-based phylogenetic analyses of up to 4,905 ddRADseq-loci (294,300 nucleotides of sequence) supported the distinctiveness of all currently recognised species (Salamandra algira, S. atra, S. corsica, S. infraimmaculata, S. lanzai, and S. Salamandra), and all five species for which we have multiple exemplars were confirmed as monophyletic. Within S. Salamandra, two main clades can be distinguished: one clade with the Apenninic subspecies S. s. gigliolii nested within the Iberian S. s. bernardezi/fastuosa; the second clade comprising all other Iberian, Central and East European subspecies. Our analyses revealed that some of the currently recognized subspecies of S. Salamandra are paraphyletic and may require taxonomic revision, with the Central- and Eastern-European subspecies all being poorly differentiated in the analysed genomic markers. Salamandra s. longirostris – sometimes considered a separate species – was nested within S. Salamandra, consistent with its subspecies status. The relationships identified within and between Salamandra species provide valuable context for future systematic and biogeographic studies, and help elucidate critical evolutionary units for conservation and taxonomy.
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Phylogenomic inference of species and subspecies diversity in the Palearctic salamander genus Salamandra.
Molecular phylogenetics and evolution, 2020Co-Authors: James D Burgon, Guillermo Velo-antón, Sebastian Steinfartz, Miguel Vences, Serge Bogaerts, Lucio Bonato, David R Vieites, David Donaire-barroso, Iñigo Martínez-solano, Barbara K MableAbstract:Abstract The salamander genus Salamandra is widespread across Europe, North Africa, and the Near East and is renowned for its conspicuous and polymorphic colouration and diversity of reproductive modes. The phylogenetic relationships within the genus, and especially in the highly polymorphic species S. Salamandra, have been very challenging to elucidate, leaving its real evolutionary history and classification at species and subspecies levels a topic of debate and contention. However, the distribution of diversity and species delimitation within the genus are critically important for identifying evolutionarily significant units for conservation and management, especially in light of threats posed by the pathogenic chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans that is causing massive declines of S. Salamandra populations in central Europe. Here, we conducted a phylogenomic analysis from across the taxonomic and geographic breadth of the genus Salamandra in its entire range. Bayesian, maximum likelihood and network-based phylogenetic analyses of up to 4905 ddRADseq-loci (294,300 nucleotides of sequence) supported the distinctiveness of all currently recognised species (Salamandra algira, S. atra, S. corsica, S. infraimmaculata, S. lanzai, and S. Salamandra), and all five species for which we have multiple exemplars were confirmed as monophyletic. Within S. Salamandra, two main clades can be distinguished: one clade with the Apenninic subspecies S. s. gigliolii nested within the Iberian S. s. bernardezi/fastuosa; and a second clade comprising all other Iberian, Central and East European subspecies. Our analyses revealed that some of the currently recognized subspecies of S. Salamandra are paraphyletic and may require taxonomic revision, with the Central- and Eastern-European subspecies all being poorly differentiated at the analysed genomic markers. Salamandra s. longirostris – sometimes considered a separate species – was nested within S. Salamandra, consistent with its subspecies status. The relationships identified within and between Salamandra species provide valuable context for future systematic and biogeographic studies, and help elucidate critical evolutionary units for conservation and taxonomy.
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Experimental set up.
2019Co-Authors: Joana Sabino-pinto, Frank Pasmans, An Martel, Sebastian Steinfartz, Miguel VencesAbstract:Experimental set up for pooled extraction of: a) Experiment 1, for Salamandra Salamandra; and b) Experiment 2, for Alytes obstetricans, Cynops pyrrhogaster, Ichthyosaura alpestris, Lissotriton helveticus, Pachyhynobius shangchengensis, and Tylototriton wenxianensis. Swabs were pooled in groups of one to four swabs (pool size) with one swab per pool being inoculated with zoospores (inoculation load) (with the exception of the controls). Load in zoospores per swab.
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detection of elusive fire salamander larvae Salamandra Salamandra in streams via environmental dna
Amphibia-reptilia, 2019Co-Authors: Kathleen Preisler, Miguel Vences, Alexander Dennis Watzal, Sebastian SteinfartzAbstract:In the face of the global biodiversity crisis, the monitoring of species richness and diversity is experiencing an increased demand entailing a raise in cost and time investment. The analysis of species-specific DNA fragments in environmental samples (eDNA) such as from water or soil, facilitate the molecular detection of species without the specific sampling of individuals. The invasive chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans ( Bsal ) is infecting natural fire salamander populations ( Salamandra Salamandra ) and causes chytridiomycosis resulting in infrequent regional extinctions of populations across Central Europe. With regard to the expanding distribution of Bsal over the last years, cost-effective monitoring of fire salamanders is important for the conservation of this species. Based on a real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay, we developed a new protocol to detect S. Salamandra larvae in streams via eDNA, using species-specific primers of the mitochondrial control region (D-loop). We tested the efficiency of qPCR primer sets for six combinations of DNA extraction kits coupled with subsequent PCR inhibitor removal kits for obtaining qPCR-detectable S. Salamandra eDNA from water filters, that were taken both from natural streams and artificial water tanks in the laboratory as positive controls. We found that the DNeasy Blood & Tissue Kit in combination with the DNeasy PowerClean CleanUp Kit performed best for detecting salamander larvae from natural streams. Our experimental protocol paves the way for resource-saving approaches to monitor S. Salamandra larvae, but also confirms the limits to this eDNA approach in that it requires optimized laboratory protocols.
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A salamander’s toxic arsenal: review of skin poison diversity and function in true salamanders, genus Salamandra
The Science of Nature, 2018Co-Authors: Tim Lüddecke, Sebastian Steinfartz, Stefan Schulz, Miguel VencesAbstract:Terrestrial salamanders of the genus Salamandra represent one of the most prominent groups of amphibians. They are mainly distributed across Europe but also reach Northern Africa and the Near East. Members of the six currently accepted species have long been known to be poisonous; however, work on their toxins was mostly published in German language, and therefore, many nuances of these studies have remained hidden from the majority of herpetologists and toxinologists. Several Salamandra species are called fire salamanders due to their highly contrasted, black-yellow colouration which probably serves to deter predators, although thorough evidence for aposematism in Salamandra is still lacking. Salamandra skin toxins do not only represent a potent antipredator defence but may also have antimicrobial effects. A better understanding of this dual function of Salamandra skin secretions is of utmost importance in the face of the emergence of a fungal disease causing catastrophic declines of fire salamanders in Central Europe, caused by the fungus Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans . In this review, we summarize the knowledge on Salamandra toxins, providing a list of the compounds so far isolated from their secretion and focusing on the bioactivity of the major compounds in Salamandra secretions, the steroidal alkaloids. We identify priorities for future research, including a screening of co-occurrence of steroidal alkaloids and tetrodotoxins in salamandrids, chemical characterization of already identified novel steroidal compounds, elucidation of the presence and role of peptides and proteins in the secretion, and experimental in vitro and in vivo study of the interactions between bioactive compounds in Salamandra skin secretions and cutaneous fungal and bacterial pathogens.
David Buckley - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Evolutionary History and Not Heterochronic Modifications Associated with Viviparity Drive Head Shape Differentiation in a Reproductive Polymorphic Species, Salamandra Salamandra
Evolutionary Biology, 2020Co-Authors: Lucía Alarcón-ríos, David Buckley, Alfredo G. Nicieza, Antigoni Kaliontzopoulou, Guillermo Velo-antónAbstract:Identifying the evolutionary processes that underlie morphological variation at the intraspecific level is cornerstone for understanding the drivers of phenotypic diversity at higher macro-evolutionary scales. The fire salamander, Salamandra Salamandra , exhibits exceptional intraspecific variation in multiple phenotypic traits (i.e. body size, head shape, coloration, reproductive modes). Pueriparity (females laying fully metamorphosed juveniles) in S. Salamandra entails modifications during embryonic development in comparison to larviparity (females laying aquatic larvae), which is the ancestral reproductive mode. These heterochronic modifications involve a general acceleration of development and mainly focus on cephalic structures to facilitate intrauterine active feeding, which might impact head shape in the adult stage. In the present study, we (i) describe the main features of head shape variation in adults of the two distinct subspecies of Salamandra Salamandra that independently evolved to pueriparity, and (ii) explore the morphological consequences of developmental and functional changes related to this major evolutionary shift. Our results show that evolutionary history, and not reproductive mode, is the main driver of head shape variation in S. Salamandra . These results suggest different evolutionary processes acting differentially on each subspecies, at least at the adult stage. The present study highlights the importance of comparative studies integrating evolutionary histories and ontogenetic trajectories to explore the different sources of observed morphological diversification.
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intraspecific variation in clutch size and maternal investment in pueriparous and larviparous Salamandra Salamandra females
Evolutionary Ecology, 2015Co-Authors: Guillermo Veloanton, David Buckley, Xavier Santos, Iago Sanmartinvillar, Adolfo CorderoriveraAbstract:Amphibian reproductive modes are diverse and are characterised by complex adaptations, including vast variability in life history traits and different parental investment strategies. For instance, viviparity is rare in urodeles despite the potential ecological advantages gained in such populations by having semi-independency from water. The fire salamander, Salamandra Salamandra, shows remarkable intraspecific variation in reproductive modes, with two strategies co-occurring: a common reproductive mode, larviparity (parturition of aquatic larvae), and a phylogenetically derived reproductive mode, pueriparity (parturition of terrestrial juveniles). Pueriparous populations of S. Salamandra have at least two independent origins, the first originating from its northern distribution in the Iberian Peninsula, and the second at two insular populations on the northwestern Iberian coast. Here, we analyse the patterns of variability of some life-history traits in larviparous and pueriparous populations of S. Salamandra, including pueriparous populations from the two independent origins, to understand how these traits relate to the evolutionary transitions in reproductive modes in S. Salamandra. Our study shows differences in female body size and clutch and brood size between larviparous and pueriparous fire salamanders. We did not find differences in female investment between reproductive modes, and thus, the evolution to pueriparity in S. Salamandra is likely characterised by the re-allocation of eggs to matrotrophy. Our study also confirms pueriparity and larviparity as the characteristic reproductive modes for insular and coastal/mainland S. s. gallaica populations, respectively, revealing the potential presence of pueriparity in one coastal population. This comparative analysis sheds light on the maternal factors that might have driven, or are related to, the evolution of pueriparity in this unique biological system and sets up the basis for testing different hypotheses that include climatic, ecological, physiological, and genetic factors as drivers of this evolutionary transition.
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Heterochrony, cannibalism, and the evolution of viviparity in Salamandra Salamandra - eScholarship
2007Co-Authors: David Buckley, Mario García-parís, Marina Alcobendas, Marvalee H. WakeAbstract:The way in which novelties that lead to macroevolutionary events originate is a major question in evolutionary biology, and one that can be addressed using the fire salamander (Salamandra Salamandra) as a model system. It is exceptional among amphibians in displaying intraspecific diversity of reproductive strategies. In S. Salamandra, two distinct modes of reproduction co-occur: the common mode, ovoviviparity (females giving birth to many small larvae), and a phylogenetically derived reproductive strategy, viviparity (females producing only a few large, fully metamorphosed juveniles, which are nourished maternally). We examine the relationship between heterochronic modifications of the ontogeny and the evolution of the new reproductive mode in the fire salamander. The in vitro development of embryos of ovoviviparous and viviparous salamanders from fertilization to metamorphosis is compared, highlighting the key events that distinguish the two modes of reproduction. We identify the heterochronic events that, together with the intrauterine cannibalistic behavior, characterize the derived viviparous reproductive strategy. The ways in which evolutionary novelties can arise by modification of developmental programs can be studied in S. Salamandra. Moreover, the variation in reproductive modes and the associated variation of sequences of development occur in neighboring, conspecific populations. Thus, S. Salamandra is a unique biological system in which evolutionary developmental research questions can be addressed at the level of populations.
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variability in survival growth and metamorphosis in the larval fire salamander Salamandra Salamandra effects of larval birth size sibship and environment
Herpetologica, 2004Co-Authors: Marina Alcobendas, David Buckley, Miguel TejedoAbstract:Salamandra Salamandra has an unusual mode of reproduction. Females retain eggs in their oviducts and give birth to aquatic larvae or, in some populations, to fully metamorphosed juveniles. We investigated how variation in the birth size of larvae of five different sibships of S. Salamandra affected larval survival, larval growth rates, time to metamorphosis, and size at metamorphosis under different food and temperature conditions. Maternal effects, via the effect of larval birth size, attenuated throughout development in all environments but still affected metamorphic traits at lower temperatures. Larval developmental time was negatively correlated with larval birth size and positively correlated with size at metamorphosis. After controlling for the effect of larval birth size, broad-sense heritabilities were obtained for residual values of metamorphic traits, indicating that enough genetic variability exists at lower temperature environments and that responses to selection of metamorphic traits are poss...
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dispersal of viviparity across contact zones in iberian populations of fire salamanders Salamandra inferred from discordance of genetic and morphological traits
Evolution, 2003Co-Authors: David Buckley, Marina Alcobendas, Mario Garciaparis, David B WakeAbstract:We used partial sequences of the cytochrome b mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) gene, obtained from 76 individuals representing 45 populations of Iberian Salamandra Salamandra plus 15 sequences of additional species of Salamandra and related genera, to investigate contact zones. These zones, identified by earlier allozymic and morphological analyses, are between populations of viviparous (S. s. bernardezi and S. s. fastuosa) and ovoviviparous (S. s. gallaica and S. s. terrestris) salamanders. The distribution of mtDNA and nuclear markers is mostly concordant at one contact zone (between S. s. gallaica and S. s. bernardezi), but at another (between S. s. fastuosa and S. s. terrestris) the markers are offset by about 250 km. The observed geographic variation fits a model of mtDNA capture. Among the potential mechanisms responsible for such discordance we favor a combination of range shifts due to climatic fluctuations and biased genetic admixture across moving contact zones. We apply our findings to the issue of possible homoplasy in the evolution of viviparity and conclude that viviparity likely arose only once within S. Salamandra.
Barbara K Mable - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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phylogenomic inference of species and subspecies diversity in the palearctic salamander genus Salamandra
Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 2020Co-Authors: James D Burgon, Sebastian Steinfartz, Miguel Vences, Guillermo Veloanton, Serge Bogaerts, Lucio Bonato, David Donairebarroso, Inigo Martinezsolano, David R Vieites, Barbara K MableAbstract:Abstract The salamander genus Salamandra is widespread across Europe, North Africa, and the Near East and is renowned for its conspicuous and polymorphic colouration and diversity of reproductive modes. The phylogenetic relationships within the genus, and especially among the highly polymorphic species S. Salamandra, have been very challenging to elucidate, leaving its real evolutionary history and classification at species and subspecies levels a topic of debate and contention. However, the distribution of diversity and species delimitation within the genus are critically important for identifying evolutionarily significant units for conservation and management, especially in light of threats posed by the pathogenic chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans that is causing massive declines of S. Salamandra populations in central Europe. Here, we conducted a phylogenomic analysis from across the taxonomic and geographic breadth of the genus Salamandra in its entire range. Bayesian, maximum likelihood and network-based phylogenetic analyses of up to 4,905 ddRADseq-loci (294,300 nucleotides of sequence) supported the distinctiveness of all currently recognised species (Salamandra algira, S. atra, S. corsica, S. infraimmaculata, S. lanzai, and S. Salamandra), and all five species for which we have multiple exemplars were confirmed as monophyletic. Within S. Salamandra, two main clades can be distinguished: one clade with the Apenninic subspecies S. s. gigliolii nested within the Iberian S. s. bernardezi/fastuosa; the second clade comprising all other Iberian, Central and East European subspecies. Our analyses revealed that some of the currently recognized subspecies of S. Salamandra are paraphyletic and may require taxonomic revision, with the Central- and Eastern-European subspecies all being poorly differentiated in the analysed genomic markers. Salamandra s. longirostris – sometimes considered a separate species – was nested within S. Salamandra, consistent with its subspecies status. The relationships identified within and between Salamandra species provide valuable context for future systematic and biogeographic studies, and help elucidate critical evolutionary units for conservation and taxonomy.
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Phylogenomic inference of species and subspecies diversity in the Palearctic salamander genus Salamandra.
Molecular phylogenetics and evolution, 2020Co-Authors: James D Burgon, Guillermo Velo-antón, Sebastian Steinfartz, Miguel Vences, Serge Bogaerts, Lucio Bonato, David R Vieites, David Donaire-barroso, Iñigo Martínez-solano, Barbara K MableAbstract:Abstract The salamander genus Salamandra is widespread across Europe, North Africa, and the Near East and is renowned for its conspicuous and polymorphic colouration and diversity of reproductive modes. The phylogenetic relationships within the genus, and especially in the highly polymorphic species S. Salamandra, have been very challenging to elucidate, leaving its real evolutionary history and classification at species and subspecies levels a topic of debate and contention. However, the distribution of diversity and species delimitation within the genus are critically important for identifying evolutionarily significant units for conservation and management, especially in light of threats posed by the pathogenic chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans that is causing massive declines of S. Salamandra populations in central Europe. Here, we conducted a phylogenomic analysis from across the taxonomic and geographic breadth of the genus Salamandra in its entire range. Bayesian, maximum likelihood and network-based phylogenetic analyses of up to 4905 ddRADseq-loci (294,300 nucleotides of sequence) supported the distinctiveness of all currently recognised species (Salamandra algira, S. atra, S. corsica, S. infraimmaculata, S. lanzai, and S. Salamandra), and all five species for which we have multiple exemplars were confirmed as monophyletic. Within S. Salamandra, two main clades can be distinguished: one clade with the Apenninic subspecies S. s. gigliolii nested within the Iberian S. s. bernardezi/fastuosa; and a second clade comprising all other Iberian, Central and East European subspecies. Our analyses revealed that some of the currently recognized subspecies of S. Salamandra are paraphyletic and may require taxonomic revision, with the Central- and Eastern-European subspecies all being poorly differentiated at the analysed genomic markers. Salamandra s. longirostris – sometimes considered a separate species – was nested within S. Salamandra, consistent with its subspecies status. The relationships identified within and between Salamandra species provide valuable context for future systematic and biogeographic studies, and help elucidate critical evolutionary units for conservation and taxonomy.
James D Burgon - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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phylogenomic inference of species and subspecies diversity in the palearctic salamander genus Salamandra
Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 2020Co-Authors: James D Burgon, Sebastian Steinfartz, Miguel Vences, Guillermo Veloanton, Serge Bogaerts, Lucio Bonato, David Donairebarroso, Inigo Martinezsolano, David R Vieites, Barbara K MableAbstract:Abstract The salamander genus Salamandra is widespread across Europe, North Africa, and the Near East and is renowned for its conspicuous and polymorphic colouration and diversity of reproductive modes. The phylogenetic relationships within the genus, and especially among the highly polymorphic species S. Salamandra, have been very challenging to elucidate, leaving its real evolutionary history and classification at species and subspecies levels a topic of debate and contention. However, the distribution of diversity and species delimitation within the genus are critically important for identifying evolutionarily significant units for conservation and management, especially in light of threats posed by the pathogenic chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans that is causing massive declines of S. Salamandra populations in central Europe. Here, we conducted a phylogenomic analysis from across the taxonomic and geographic breadth of the genus Salamandra in its entire range. Bayesian, maximum likelihood and network-based phylogenetic analyses of up to 4,905 ddRADseq-loci (294,300 nucleotides of sequence) supported the distinctiveness of all currently recognised species (Salamandra algira, S. atra, S. corsica, S. infraimmaculata, S. lanzai, and S. Salamandra), and all five species for which we have multiple exemplars were confirmed as monophyletic. Within S. Salamandra, two main clades can be distinguished: one clade with the Apenninic subspecies S. s. gigliolii nested within the Iberian S. s. bernardezi/fastuosa; the second clade comprising all other Iberian, Central and East European subspecies. Our analyses revealed that some of the currently recognized subspecies of S. Salamandra are paraphyletic and may require taxonomic revision, with the Central- and Eastern-European subspecies all being poorly differentiated in the analysed genomic markers. Salamandra s. longirostris – sometimes considered a separate species – was nested within S. Salamandra, consistent with its subspecies status. The relationships identified within and between Salamandra species provide valuable context for future systematic and biogeographic studies, and help elucidate critical evolutionary units for conservation and taxonomy.
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Phylogenomic inference of species and subspecies diversity in the Palearctic salamander genus Salamandra.
Molecular phylogenetics and evolution, 2020Co-Authors: James D Burgon, Guillermo Velo-antón, Sebastian Steinfartz, Miguel Vences, Serge Bogaerts, Lucio Bonato, David R Vieites, David Donaire-barroso, Iñigo Martínez-solano, Barbara K MableAbstract:Abstract The salamander genus Salamandra is widespread across Europe, North Africa, and the Near East and is renowned for its conspicuous and polymorphic colouration and diversity of reproductive modes. The phylogenetic relationships within the genus, and especially in the highly polymorphic species S. Salamandra, have been very challenging to elucidate, leaving its real evolutionary history and classification at species and subspecies levels a topic of debate and contention. However, the distribution of diversity and species delimitation within the genus are critically important for identifying evolutionarily significant units for conservation and management, especially in light of threats posed by the pathogenic chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans that is causing massive declines of S. Salamandra populations in central Europe. Here, we conducted a phylogenomic analysis from across the taxonomic and geographic breadth of the genus Salamandra in its entire range. Bayesian, maximum likelihood and network-based phylogenetic analyses of up to 4905 ddRADseq-loci (294,300 nucleotides of sequence) supported the distinctiveness of all currently recognised species (Salamandra algira, S. atra, S. corsica, S. infraimmaculata, S. lanzai, and S. Salamandra), and all five species for which we have multiple exemplars were confirmed as monophyletic. Within S. Salamandra, two main clades can be distinguished: one clade with the Apenninic subspecies S. s. gigliolii nested within the Iberian S. s. bernardezi/fastuosa; and a second clade comprising all other Iberian, Central and East European subspecies. Our analyses revealed that some of the currently recognized subspecies of S. Salamandra are paraphyletic and may require taxonomic revision, with the Central- and Eastern-European subspecies all being poorly differentiated at the analysed genomic markers. Salamandra s. longirostris – sometimes considered a separate species – was nested within S. Salamandra, consistent with its subspecies status. The relationships identified within and between Salamandra species provide valuable context for future systematic and biogeographic studies, and help elucidate critical evolutionary units for conservation and taxonomy.
