We aim to evaluate the genetic structure of an Atlantic Forest amphibian species, Scinax eurydice, testing the congruence among patterns identified and proposed by the literature for Pleistocene refugia, microrefugia, and geographic barriers to gene flow such as major rivers. Furthermore, we aim to evaluate predictions of such barriers and refugia on the genetic structure of the species, such as presence/absence of dispersal, timing since separation, and population expansions/contractions. We sequenced mitochondrial and nuclear genetic markers on 94 tissue samples from 41 localities. We inferred a gene tree and estimated genetic distances using mtDNA sequences. We then ran population clustering and assignment methods, AMOVA, and estimated migration rates among populations identified through mtDNA and nDNA analyses. We used a dated species tree, skyline plots, and summary statistics to evaluate concordance between population’s distributions and geographic barriers and Pleistocene refugia. Scinax eurydice showed high mtDNA divergences and four clearly distinct mtDNA lineages. Species tree and population assignment tests supported the existence of two major clades corresponding to northeastern and southeastern Atlantic Forest in Brazil, each one composed of two other clades. Lineage splitting events occurred from late Pliocene to Pleistocene. We identified demographic expansions in two clades, and inexistent to low levels of migrations among different populations. Genetic patterns and demographic data support the existence of two northern Refuge and corroborate microrefugia south of the Doce/Jequitinhonha Rivers biogeographic divide. The results agree with a scenario of recent demographic expansion of lowland taxa. Scinax eurydice comprises a species complex, harboring undescribed taxa consistent with Pleistocene refugia. Two rivers lie at the boundaries among populations and endorse their role as secondary barriers to gene flow.
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Diversidade Animal, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Campus Universitário de Ondina, Rua Barão de Jeremoabo, 40170–115, Salvador, Bahia, Brasil;Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Museu Nacional, Departamento de Vertebrados, Quinta da Boa Vista, s/n, 20940–040, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil;Programa de Pós-Graduação em Diversidade Animal, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Campus Universitário de Ondina, Rua Barão de Jeremoabo, 40170–115, Salvador, Bahia, Brasil;Museu de Zoologia, Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Campus Universitário de Ondina, Rua Barão de Jeremoabo, 40170–115, Salvador, Bahia, Brasil;Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Centro de Biociências, Departamento de Botânica, Ecologia e Zoologia, Laboratório de Anfíbios e Répteis-LAR, Campus Universitário, Lagoa Nova, 59078–900, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil;Programa de Pós-Graduação em Sistemática e Evolução, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Campus Universitário Lagoa Nova, 59078–900, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil;Programa de Pós-Graduação em Diversidade Animal, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Campus Universitário de Ondina, Rua Barão de Jeremoabo, 40170–115, Salvador, Bahia, Brasil;Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Museu Nacional, Departamento de Vertebrados, Quinta da Boa Vista, s/n, 20940–040, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil;Museu de Zoologia, Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Campus Universitário de Ondina, Rua Barão de Jeremoabo, 40170–115, Salvador, Bahia, Brasil
Recommended Citation:
Lucas Menezes,Clarissa Canedo,Henrique Batalha-Filho,et al. Multilocus Phylogeography of the Treefrog Scinax eurydice (Anura, Hylidae) Reveals a Plio-Pleistocene Diversification in the Atlantic Forest[J]. PLOS ONE,2016-01-01,11(6)