Palaeoclimatic changes resulted in range expansion and subsequent divergence in brown fur seals, Arctocephalus pusillus.

ABSTRACT: Past climatic change as a driving force of marine diversification is still largely unclear, particularly for Southern Hemisphere species. Here, we present a case using the brown fur seal, Arctocephalus pusillus, assessing the geographical structure and demographic history using mitochondrial and nuclear data. Results show the two previously defined subspecies (one from Australia and the other from southern Africa) are phylogeographically distinct. Migration analyses based on nuclear data suggest the absence of migrants among the two genetically close assemblages. The demographic history of A. pusillus is characterized by a glacial population expansion (approx. 18 kya) in the southern African lineage, which coincides with time estimates of population expansion of prey species

SUBMITTER: Malan A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9428522 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature