The phylogeny of pikas (Ochotona) inferred from a multilocus coalescent approach

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2015-03

Authors

Melo-Ferreira, José (Author) FCUP; Lemos de Matos, Ana (Author) FCUP; Areal, Helena (Author) FCUP; Lissovsky, Andrey A. (Author) Other; Carneiro, Miguel (Author) FCUP; Esteves, Pedro J. (Author) FCUP

Journal

Title: Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution

Vol. 84

Pages: 240-244

ISSN: 1055-7903

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 26 Citations

Scopus - 29 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00A-5WW

DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2015.01.004

Abstract (EN): The clarification of the systematics of pikas (genus Ochotona) has been hindered by largely overlapping morphological characters among species and the lack of a comprehensive molecular phylogeny. Here we estimate the first multilocus phylogeny of the genus to date, by analysing 12 nuclear DNA markers (total of 7.5 Kb) in 11 species of pikas from the four classified subgenera (Pika, Ochotona, Lagotona and Conothoa) using a multispecies coalescent-based framework. The species-tree confirmed the subgeneric classification by retrieving as monophyletic the subgenera represented here by more than one species. Contrary to previous phylogenies based on mtDNA alone, Lagotona was found to be sister to Pika. Also, support for the monophyly of the alpina group was not strong, thus caution should be used in future analyses of this group. A relaxed molecular clock calibrated using the Ochotonidae-Leporidae divergence resulted in more recent estimates of divergence times relative to previous studies. Strong concordance with inferences based on fossil records was found, suggesting that the initial diversification of the genus took place by the end of late Miocene. Finally, this work sets up methodologies and gathers molecular markers that can be used to extend the understanding of the evolutionary history of the genus.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 5