Niche divergence among closely related taxa provides insight on evolutionary patterns of ticks

Aim: Understanding the degree to which closely related taxa diverge in their niche traits could provide insight on their evolutionary patterns, as well as shed some light on the mechanisms underpinning broad-scale biogeographic patterns. The evolution of ticks was thought to be driven by hosts. Howe...

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Main Authors: Cuervo, Pablo Fernando, Flores, Fernando Sebastián, Venzal, José Manuel, Nava, Santiago
Format: info:ar-repo/semantics/artículo
Language:Inglés
Published: Wiley 2021
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/10239
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jbi.14245
https://doi.org/10.1111/jbi.14245
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author Cuervo, Pablo Fernando
Flores, Fernando Sebastián
Venzal, José Manuel
Nava, Santiago
author_browse Cuervo, Pablo Fernando
Flores, Fernando Sebastián
Nava, Santiago
Venzal, José Manuel
author_facet Cuervo, Pablo Fernando
Flores, Fernando Sebastián
Venzal, José Manuel
Nava, Santiago
author_sort Cuervo, Pablo Fernando
collection INTA Digital
description Aim: Understanding the degree to which closely related taxa diverge in their niche traits could provide insight on their evolutionary patterns, as well as shed some light on the mechanisms underpinning broad-scale biogeographic patterns. The evolution of ticks was thought to be driven by hosts. However, recent evidence suggests that tick evolution is more likely to be driven by habitat conditions. The Amblyomma maculatum group of ticks provides a good example to test the former, as its incipient speciation raises the possibility of a very rapid adaptation to slightly different environments. Location: The Americas. Taxa: Ticks from the Amblyomma maculatum Koch, 1844 (Acari: Ixodidae) group (A. tigrinum, A. triste s.s., A. maculatum s.s. and two intermediate morphs). Methods: We addressed the question of whether the differentiation of taxa within this group results from ecological factors, either maintaining a similar ecological niche (conservatism) or by occupying distinct niches (divergence). We analysed the distribution of each tick morphotype with ecological niche models. Next, we explored the question of whether these closely related taxa inhabit environments that are more different or more similar than expected by comparing niche overlap in environmental space. Results: We found evidence for niche differentiation, showing that the members of the Amblyomma maculatum group exist in and respond to aspects of different environments, leading to geographical variation. Main conclusions: The analysis of the ecological niches of the Amblyomma maculatum group of ticks indicates niche conservatism for the pairs A. tigrinum—A. maculatum s.s. and A. triste s.s.—A. maculatum s.s, traditionally associated to allopatric speciation; while incipient niche divergence is suggested for the remaining comparisons. These findings add additional evidence to the study of the evolution of ticks, giving support to the hypothesis of habitat conditions driving the evolution of taxa with no strict host specificity.
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spelling INTA102392021-09-13T14:56:28Z Niche divergence among closely related taxa provides insight on evolutionary patterns of ticks Cuervo, Pablo Fernando Flores, Fernando Sebastián Venzal, José Manuel Nava, Santiago Amblyomma maculatum Metastigmata Taxonomía Medio Ambiente Taxonomy Environment Garrapatas Ticks Aim: Understanding the degree to which closely related taxa diverge in their niche traits could provide insight on their evolutionary patterns, as well as shed some light on the mechanisms underpinning broad-scale biogeographic patterns. The evolution of ticks was thought to be driven by hosts. However, recent evidence suggests that tick evolution is more likely to be driven by habitat conditions. The Amblyomma maculatum group of ticks provides a good example to test the former, as its incipient speciation raises the possibility of a very rapid adaptation to slightly different environments. Location: The Americas. Taxa: Ticks from the Amblyomma maculatum Koch, 1844 (Acari: Ixodidae) group (A. tigrinum, A. triste s.s., A. maculatum s.s. and two intermediate morphs). Methods: We addressed the question of whether the differentiation of taxa within this group results from ecological factors, either maintaining a similar ecological niche (conservatism) or by occupying distinct niches (divergence). We analysed the distribution of each tick morphotype with ecological niche models. Next, we explored the question of whether these closely related taxa inhabit environments that are more different or more similar than expected by comparing niche overlap in environmental space. Results: We found evidence for niche differentiation, showing that the members of the Amblyomma maculatum group exist in and respond to aspects of different environments, leading to geographical variation. Main conclusions: The analysis of the ecological niches of the Amblyomma maculatum group of ticks indicates niche conservatism for the pairs A. tigrinum—A. maculatum s.s. and A. triste s.s.—A. maculatum s.s, traditionally associated to allopatric speciation; while incipient niche divergence is suggested for the remaining comparisons. These findings add additional evidence to the study of the evolution of ticks, giving support to the hypothesis of habitat conditions driving the evolution of taxa with no strict host specificity. EEA Rafaela Fil: Cuervo, Pablo Fernando. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral. Laboratorio de Ecología de Enfermedades; Argentina Fil: Cuervo, Pablo Fernando. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral. Laboratorio de Ecología de Enfermedades; Argentina Fil: Cuervo, Pablo Fernando. Universidad de Valencia. Facultad de Farmacia. Departamento de Parasitología; España Fil: Flores, Fernando S. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral; Argentina Fil: Flores, Fernando S. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral; Argentina Fil: Venzal, José Manuel. Universidad de la República. CENUR Litoral Norte-Salto. Facultad de Veterinaria; Uruguay Fil: Nava, Santiago. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela; Argentina Fil: Nava, Santiago. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina 2021-09-13T14:47:04Z 2021-09-13T14:47:04Z 2021-09 info:ar-repo/semantics/artículo info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/10239 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jbi.14245 0305-0270 1365-2699 https://doi.org/10.1111/jbi.14245 eng info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess application/pdf Wiley Journal of Biogeography (First published: 08 September 2021)
spellingShingle Amblyomma maculatum
Metastigmata
Taxonomía
Medio Ambiente
Taxonomy
Environment
Garrapatas
Ticks
Cuervo, Pablo Fernando
Flores, Fernando Sebastián
Venzal, José Manuel
Nava, Santiago
Niche divergence among closely related taxa provides insight on evolutionary patterns of ticks
title Niche divergence among closely related taxa provides insight on evolutionary patterns of ticks
title_full Niche divergence among closely related taxa provides insight on evolutionary patterns of ticks
title_fullStr Niche divergence among closely related taxa provides insight on evolutionary patterns of ticks
title_full_unstemmed Niche divergence among closely related taxa provides insight on evolutionary patterns of ticks
title_short Niche divergence among closely related taxa provides insight on evolutionary patterns of ticks
title_sort niche divergence among closely related taxa provides insight on evolutionary patterns of ticks
topic Amblyomma maculatum
Metastigmata
Taxonomía
Medio Ambiente
Taxonomy
Environment
Garrapatas
Ticks
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/10239
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jbi.14245
https://doi.org/10.1111/jbi.14245
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AT venzaljosemanuel nichedivergenceamongcloselyrelatedtaxaprovidesinsightonevolutionarypatternsofticks
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