Testing molecular date estimates using an ecological and vicariant case study in treefrogs: The Geological‐Ecological Molecular Calibration

• DOI: 10.1111/jbi.14971
• Publication Date: 2024-07-07T13:59:45Z
• Authors: Michael J. Jowers; Jesús Muñoz Pajares; John Weber; Jeanette Arkle; Salvador Arenas‐C...; Simon Y. W. Ho; Gilson A. Rivas; John C. Murphy; Amaël Borzée; R. Alexander Pyron; Marcos Perez‐Losada; Mayke De Freitas; J. Roger Downie; Gregorio Moreno‐R...; Giovanni Forcina; Santiago Sánchez‐...
• Keywords: Vicariance

Abstract Aim To date a vicariant event through the mutualistic relationship of hylid frog and its bromeliad host found across two isolated mountain ranges as part an island–continental split to use this information calibrate molecular dating analysis hylids. Location South America. Time Period Pliocene. Major Taxa Studied Treefrogs, Arboranae. Methods Pliocene tectonic movements sank portion range that connected present‐day Trinidad (island) northern Venezuela, eventually isolating populations golden tree Phytotriades auratus Glomeropitcairnia erectiflora on both sides saltwater barrier. We estimated submersion rate timing event, then employed ecological niche modelling establish distribution generated nucleotide sequence data for each side marine barrier proposed biogeographic calibration between populations. Using Bayesian phylogenetic analysis, we evaluated impact incorporating estimates treefrog divergence times. Results A relatively continuous, high‐elevation existed before opening Gulf Paria (4.45 ± 0.85 Ma). G. would have been distributed Northern Range mountains single population since Divergence times among treefrogs (Arboranae) were older than those inferred using fossil calibrations alone, with mean age subfamilies genera being ~2 ~1.2 million years older, respectively. Main Conclusions Our study presents based model connects evolution geology data. The implementation clock reduces uncertainty in shallower nodes phylogeny