Work

Hybridizing salamanders experience accelerated diversification

Year: 2020

Type: article

Abstract: Whether hybridization generates or erodes species diversity has long been debated, but to date most studies have been conducted at small taxonomic scales. Salamanders (order Caudata) represent a taxonomic order in which hybridization plays a prevalent ecological and evolutionary role. We employed a recently developed model of trait-dependent diversification to test the hypothesis that hybridization impacts the diversification dynamics of species that are currently hybridizing. We find strong evidence supporting this hypothesis, showing that hybridizing salamander lineages have significantly greater net-diversification rates than non-hybridizing lineages. This pattern is driven by concurrently increased speciation rates and decreased extinction rates in hybridizing lineages. Our results support the hypothesis that hybridization can act as a generative force in macroevolutionary diversification.

Source: Scientific Reports

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-63378-w

Authors: Austin H. Patton, Mark J. Margres, Brendan Epstein, Jon Eastman, Luke J. Harmon, Andrew Storfer

Institutions: Washington State University, Harvard University, University of Minnesota, University of Idaho

Language: English

Topic: Evolution and Paleontology Studies

Subfield: Paleontology

Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,870

Funders: National Science Foundation, Directorate for Biological Sciences, National Institute of General Medical Sciences, Division of Environmental Biology