Phylogeography of a dominant desert lizard reveals the synergistic effects of topography and climate dynamics on diversification in arid eastern-Central Asia
一种优势荒漠蜥蜴的系统地理学研究揭示了地形和气候动态对中亚东部干旱区多样化的协同影响
Ali A. Chen D.-L. Dujsebayeva T.N. Song Q. Terbish K. Li J. Qi Y. Guo X.-G.
18 May 2025Science Press
Zoological Research
2025#46Issue 3485 - 504 pp.
Comprehensive phylogeographic insights require the integration of evidence across diverse taxa, ecosystems, and geographical regions. However, our understanding of the arid biota of the vast Asian drylands remains limited. Accordingly, this study combined phylogeographic analyses with ecological niche modeling to investigate patterns of diversification and demography of the Central Asian racerunner (Eremias vermiculata), a widespread lizard inhabiting arid eastern-Central Asia (AECA). Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences were obtained from 876 individuals across 113 localities, while three nuclear genes—CGNL1, MAP1A, and β-fibint7—were sequenced from 204, 170, and 138 individuals, respectively. Analyses identified four distinct mtDNA lineages corresponding to specific geographic subregions within the AECA, reflecting the topographic and ecological heterogeneity of the region. The detection of mito-nuclear discordance indicated the presence of complex evolutionary dynamics. Divergence dating placed the initial lineage splits at approximately 1.18 million years ago, coinciding with major tectonic activity and climatic aridification that likely promoted allopatric divergence. In particular, lineage diversification within the Tarim Basin suggests that recent environmental shifts may have contributed to genetic divergence. Demographic reconstructions revealed signatures of population expansion or range shifts across all lineages during the Last Glacial Maximum, signifying the combined influence of the unique topography and climate dynamics of the AECA on diversification and demographic change. These results highlight the need for fine-scale genomic investigations to clarify the mechanisms underlying mito-nuclear discordance and local adaptation. Such efforts are essential for advancing understanding of how genetic diversity in dryland taxa responds to environmental change, providing insights into the evolutionary adaptability of species in dynamic landscapes. Copyright
Demographic history , Ecological niche modeling , Genetic structure , Phylogeography , Pleistocene climatic oscillations
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Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sichuan, Chengdu, 610213, China
University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
Department of Pathogenic Biology, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Sichuan, Chengdu, 610041, China
Laboratory of Ornithology and Herpetology, Institute of Zoology, Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Almaty, 050060, Kazakhstan
Chengdu Library and Information Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sichuan, Chengdu, 610299, China
Department of Biology, School of Sciences and Arts, National University of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar, 14200, Mongolia
College of Life Science and Technology, Xinjiang University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, 830046, China
Chengdu Institute of Biology
University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
Department of Pathogenic Biology
Laboratory of Ornithology and Herpetology
Chengdu Library and Information Center
Department of Biology
College of Life Science and Technology
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