Tracing the diversification history of a Neogene rodent invasion into South America

• DOI: 10.1111/ecog.04102
• Publication Date: 2018-09-10T10:38:15Z
• Authors: Renan Maestri; Nathan S. Upham; Bruce D. Patterson
• Keywords: Biome; Sigmodontinae

We investigated spatial patterns of evolutionary relatedness and diversification rates to test hypotheses about the historical biogeographic processes underlying radiation Neotropical rats mice (Sigmodontinae, ~400 species). A negative correlation between mean phylogenetic distance rodent assemblages reveals a pattern species co‐occurrence in which closely related are also fastest diversifying ones. Subregions Neotropics occupied by distantly that on average more slowly include Central America, northern South Atlantic forest. In southern recent turnover appears have been higher. Ancestral locations for main tribes sigmodontines were estimated, suggesting eastern America Amazonian lowlands colonized before some central Andean regions, even though latter now centers richness these rodents. Moreover, past connection tropical Andes Forest is suggested our results, highlighting role hypothetical arc connecting two biomes, would impacted many other groups organisms. Whether rapid, speciation regions Quaternary climatic fluctuations young age (~12.7 Ma crown age) or instead intrinsic traits rodents remains an open question. If former true, we hypothesize contrasting trends will characterize older clades.