Biogeographic regions and events of isolation and diversification of the endemic biota of the tropical Andes.

ABSTRACT: Understanding the spatial and temporal evolution of biota in the tropical Andes is a major challenge, given the region's topographic complexity and high beta diversity. We used a network approach to find biogeographic regions (bioregions) based on high-resolution species distribution models for 151 endemic bird taxa. Then, we used dated molecular phylogenies of 14 genera to reconstruct the area history through a sequence of allopatric speciation processes. We identified 15 biogeographical regions and found 26 events of isolation and diversification within their boundaries that are independently confirmed with disjunct distributions of sister taxa. Furthermore, these events are spatially congruent with six geographical barriers related to warm and/or dry river valleys, discontinuities in el

SUBMITTER: Hazzi NA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6077705 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature