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Species differentiation in two closely related Neotropical rodents across a transition zone between ecoregions

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Abstract

Cline variation in ecoregion transition zones can provide strong evidence for adaptation to different environments. We describe the geographical gradations of phenotypes and genetic variation between two rodent species across an environmental gradient in northwestern Argentina. We applied an integrative analysis of the genetic (mtDNA) and phenotypic (skull morphometrics and pelage colorimetrics) variation in Graomys griseoflavus and G. chacoensis, at the margin of their ranges along a local transect between the Chaco and the Monte Desert ecoregions. We aimed to test the hypothesis that phenotypic clines between species corresponds with the transition between these two ecoregions. Molecular identification based on 777 bp of the mitochondrial cyt b evidenced that both species did not occur in syntopy and corroborated a marked genetic differentiation. Subtle species differences were evident in both skull morphometrics and pelage colorimetrics. Generalized additive models of phenotypic traits suggested an ecological and evolutionary interaction between species and their environment. The tympanic bullae traits showed a significant cline variation across the transition zone, both being greater in the specimens from the Monte Desert ecoregion. The phenotypic shift along the transect showed disparate patterns not always coincident with the transition between ecoregions. These patterns could arise by means of selection (or phenotypic plasticity) due to local conditions favoring different traits in populations inhabiting distinct environments.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Cecilia Miozzo and her team for laboratory support and help at different moments of this study. R. Tatiana Sánchez and Cecilia G. García hold postdoc fellowships granted by the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET). We are grateful to two anonymous reviewers, whose comments and corrections improved the manuscript. JJM, MLSS, RMB, and IF are CONICET Researchers. This study was partially funded by CONICET (PIP 668 2015-2017) to JJM and IF.

Funding

Financial support was provided by Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET, PIP 668 2015–2017).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratorio de Ecología Evolutiva y Biogeografía, Instituto de Ecorregiones Andinas (INECOA), Universidad Nacional de Jujuy-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, C. Gorriti 237, 4600, San Salvador de Jujuy, Argentina

    Juan José Martínez, Cecilia G. García & Ignacio Ferro

  2. Instituto de Investigaciones de Biodiversidad Argentina (PIDBA), Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, Miguel Lillo 205, 4000, Tucumán, Argentina

    R. Tatiana Sánchez, María L. Sandoval Salinas, Rubén M. Barquez & Ignacio Ferro

  3. Instituto de Investigación en Luz, Ambiente y Visión (ILAV), Universidad Nacional de Tucumán-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Av. Independencia 1800, 4000, Tucumán, Argentina

    María L. Sandoval Salinas

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  1. Juan José Martínez
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Conceptualization (JJM); Methodology (JJM, RTS, MLSS, CGG, IF); Formal analysis and investigation (JJM, RTS, MLSS); Writing—original draft preparation (JJM); Writing—review and editing (JJM, RTS, MLSS, CGG, RMB, IF).

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Appendix A

Appendix A

List of examined specimens of Graomys species, their geographical origin and their accession or catalog number. CML is the acronym of the Colección Mamíferos Lillo, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, Tucumán. GenBank access between brackets.


Graomys chacoensis. CATAMARCA province, Capayán department, Chumbicha, − 27.5333, − 66.4000 (CML 3477, CML 3481, CML 3483, CML 3484, CML 9432). LA RIOJA province, General Ocampo department, Ambil, 23 km S of Catuna, − 31.1268, − 66.3459 (CML 12978, CML 12979 [OL840971], CML 12980 [OL840961], CML 12981 [OL840944], CML 12982 [OL840959], CML 12983 [OL840962], CML 12984 [OL840954], CML 13006 [OL840945]). Rosario V. Peñaloza department, Chepes, Puesto La Escondida, 42 km S of Chepes, − 31.5764, − 66.2486 (CML 12990 [OL840947]). General Angel V. Peñaloza department, Chila, 8 km N of Tama, − 31.4609, − 66.5344 (CML 12985 [OL840964], CML 12986 [OL840956]). Tama, 6.5 km S of the main square by route 30, − 30.5535, − 66.5167 (CML 12987 [OL840949]). Independencia department, Guayapa, Patquia, − 30.0654, − 66.8873 (CML 1514, CML 1517, CML 1519, CML 1521, CML 1522, CML 1525, CML 1569). General Facundo Quiroga department. 2 km E of Malazán, El Descanso camping, − 30.8105, − 66.5778 (CML 12964 [OL840970], CML 12965 [OL840951], CML 13005 [OL840958]). General Belgrano department, Olta, Olta dam, − 30.6396, − 66.2963 (CML 12961 [OL840955], CML 12962 [OL840957], CML 12963 [OL840966]). San Martín department, Ulapes, 1 km W of the main square of Ulapes, − 31.5764, − 66.2486 (CML 12991 [OL840972], CML 12992 [OL840974], CML 12993 [OL840950], CML 12994 [OL840946], CML 12995 [OL840952], CML 12996 [OL840948], CML 12997 [OL840960], CML 12998 [OL840967], CML 12999 [OL840963], CML 13000 [OL840969], CML 13007 [OL840953], CML 13008 [OL840968], CML 13009 [OL840965], CML 13010 [OL840973]).


Graomys griseoflavus. CATAMARCA province, Tinogasta department, near La Puntilla, 300 mW of RN 60, 1.23 km SE of Río Colorado, − 28.1035, − 67.5163 (CML 13003 [OL840922]). LA RIOJA province, Castro Barros department, Anillaco, − 28.8139, − 66.9368 (CML 9748, CML 9749, CML 12954, CML 12955 [OL840920], CML 12956 [OL840942], CML 12953 [OL840921], CML 12958 [OL840918]). Independencia department, El Chiflón, near to Reserva Provincial El Chiflón, − 30.2093, − 67.5583 (CML 12988 [OL840940], CML 12989 [OL840924]). Felipe Varela department. 3 km NW of Guandacol, road to Santa Elena, − 29.4978, − 68.5811 (CML 9757, 9758). Chilecito department, Paraje Guanchin, by RP 15 km 19, − 29.1824, − 67.6425 (CML 12959 [OL840930]). Arauco department, Quebrada de Mazán, 1.09 km W of Villa Mazán roundabout, − 28.6440, − 66.5588 (CML 12949 [OL840915], CML 12950 [OL840929], CML 13004 [OL840926], CML 12951 [OL840927], CML 12952 [OL840935]). 2 km S, crossing Río de La Punta, RP 7, − 28.7580, − 66.7859 (CML 12944 [OL840931], CML 12945 [OL840933], CML 12946 [OL840932], CML 12947 [OL840934], CML 12948 [OL840923]). Sanagasta department. Near to Parque Geológico Sanagasta, by RN 75, − 29.2802, − 67.0366 (CML 13001 [OL840941], CML 13002 [OL840919]). Vinchina department. 12.4 km of San José de Vinchina, − 28.7171, − 68.2927 (CML 9401, CML 9416, CML 9417, CML 9418, CML 9423). General Lamadrid department, Villa Castelli, Cerro del Toro, − 28.9999, − 68.1764 (CML 12966 [OL840916], CML 12972, CML 12974 [OL840917], CML 12967 [OL840936], CML 12968 [OL840939], CML 12969 [OL840925], CML 12970 [OL840938], CML 12973 [OL840943], CML 12975 [OL840928], CML 12976 [OL840937]).

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Martínez, J.J., Sánchez, R.T., Sandoval Salinas, M.L. et al. Species differentiation in two closely related Neotropical rodents across a transition zone between ecoregions. Mamm Biol 102, 1927–1941 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42991-022-00306-7

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