Ethiopian highlands as a cradle of the African fossorial root-rats (genus Tachyoryctes), the genetic evidence

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F60076658%3A12310%2F18%3A43897215" target="_blank" >RIV/60076658:12310/18:43897215 - isvavai.cz</a>

Alternative codes found

RIV/68081766:_____/18:00489367 RIV/67985904:_____/18:00492373 RIV/00216224:14310/18:00104825

Result on the web

<a href="https://reader.elsevier.com/reader/sd/90BB52BA43DC768B4F18CB84CE7FEF859CD67DC0E74D8D439F36692A5573472D905C313CA9A2DCAB951174345AB76260" target="_blank" >https://reader.elsevier.com/reader/sd/90BB52BA43DC768B4F18CB84CE7FEF859CD67DC0E74D8D439F36692A5573472D905C313CA9A2DCAB951174345AB76260</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2018.04.003" target="_blank" >10.1016/j.ympev.2018.04.003</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Ethiopian highlands as a cradle of the African fossorial root-rats (genus Tachyoryctes), the genetic evidence

Original language description

Root-rats of the genus Tachyoryctes (Spalacidae) are subterranean herbivores occupying open humid habitats in the highlands of Eastern Africa. There is strong disagreement about species diversity of the genus, because some authors accept two species, while others more than ten. Species with relatively high surface activity, the giant root-rat Tachyoryctes macrocephalus, which is by far largest member of the genus, and the more fossorial African root-rat Tachyoryctes splendens, which eventually has been divided up to 12-13 species, represent two major morphological forms within the genus. In our study, we carried out a multilocus analysis of root-rats&apos; genetic diversity based on samples from 41 localities representing most of Tachyoryctes geographic distribution. Using two mitochondrial and three nuclear genes, we found six main genetic clades possibly representing separate species. These clades were organised into three basal groups whose branching is not well resolved, probably due to fast radiation in the late Pliocene and early Pleistocene. Climatic changes in that time, i.e. fast and repeated changes between extremely dry and humid conditions, which both limited root-rat dispersal, probably stimulated their initial genetic diversification. Contrary to expectation based on the largest root-rat diversity in Kenya (up to eight species by some authors), we found the highest diversity in the Ethiopian highlands, because all but one putative species occur there. All individuals outside of Ethiopia belong to a single recently diverged and expanded clade. This species should bear the name T. annectens (Thomas, 1891), and all other names of taxa described from outside of Ethiopia should be considered its junior synonyms. However, to solve taxonomic issues, future detailed morphological analyses should be conducted on all main clades together with genetic analysis of material from areas of their supposed contact. One of the most interesting findings of the study is the internal position of T. macrocephalus in T. splendens sensu lato. This demonstrates the intriguing phenomenon of accelerated morphological evolution of rodents occupying the Afroalpine zone in Ethiopia. Finally, we discuss how the distribution of Tachyoryctes is influenced by competition with another group of subterranean herbivores on the continent, the African mole-rats. We assume that both groups do not compete directly as previously expected, but specialisation to different subterranean niches is the main factor responsible for their spatial segregation.

Czech name

—

Czech description

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Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

—

OECD FORD branch

10602 - Biology (theoretical, mathematical, thermal, cryobiology, biological rhythm), Evolutionary biology

Project

<a href="/en/project/GB14-36098G" target="_blank" >GB14-36098G: Center for tropical biology</a><br>

Continuities

I - Institucionalni podpora na dlouhodoby koncepcni rozvoj vyzkumne organizace

Publication year

2018

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution

ISSN

1055-7903

e-ISSN

—

Volume of the periodical

126

Issue of the periodical within the volume

SEP 2018

Country of publishing house

US - UNITED STATES

Number of pages

11

Pages from-to

105-115

UT code for WoS article

000437663900010

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-85045633185