Evolutionary history of soil-feeding Neotropical termites reveals recent divergences linked to geologic-climatic influences

Abstract The Neotropics harbor a diverse array of flora and fauna shaped by a complex geological and climatic history. It includes marine invasions, pulses of Andean uplift, glaciations, and the uplift of the Panama Isthmus. These events have shaped organism distribution, which can be described by methods of historical phylogeography. However, the evolutionary history of nonvertebrate organisms in the Neotropics is still largely unknown. This applies to termites, which are particularly diverse and ecologically important. The phylogeography of the soil-feeding termites Embiratermes neotenicus and Embiratermes chagresi (Termitidae: Syntermitinae) was studied across their whole distribution range, using samples of 243 colonies from eight countries. Analyses based on mitochondrial DNA fragments, microsatellite loci, and complete mitochondrial genomes revealed 4 major mitochondrial haplogroups (H1–H4). The H4 haplogroup occurs in northeastern Brazil and diverged first. The other groups appear to be associated with the Pebas System and marine invasions during the Miocene, which may have contributed to the separation of the ancestral population along a north–south axis. The H1 haplogroup was affiliated with E. chagresi. The phylogenomic analysis estimated the divergence of E. chagresi from the other groups to 5 million years ago, aligning with the northern cordillera uplift during the Miocene. Microsatellite data highlighted the isolation of E. neotenicus populations in Suriname and French Guiana, possibly linked to Pleistocene climatic fluctuations. Our study provides insights into the evolutionary history of these species, contributing to a better understanding of how geological and climatic events have influenced species evolution in the Neotropics.

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Publication Details

Journal
Insect Systematics and Diversity
Published
2024-11-01
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1093/isd/ixae043
Citations
3
Primary Topic
Plant and animal studies
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
3.09

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article

Evolutionary history of soil-feeding Neotropical termites reveals recent divergences linked to geologic-climatic influences

Yves Roisin, Alane Ayana Vieira de Oliveira Couto, Simon Hellemans, Carlos Daniel Vecco Giove et al.
3 citations
Insect Systematics and Diversity
Plant and animal studies
3.09
article

Evolutionary history of soil-feeding Neotropical termites reveals recent divergences linked to geologic-climatic influences

Yves Roisin, Alane Ayana Vieira de Oliveira Couto, Simon Hellemans, Carlos Daniel Vecco Giove, David Sillam‐Dussès, Virginie Roy, Agustín Cerna Mendoza, Jan Šobotník, Inge Armbrecht, Romain Fougeyrollas, Chantal Poteaux, Damien Gergonne, Cynthia Stefania Valladares Romero, Robert Hanus, Thomas Bourguignon
article en
3 citations

Abstract

Abstract The Neotropics harbor a diverse array of flora and fauna shaped by a complex geological and climatic history. It includes marine invasions, pulses of Andean uplift, glaciations, and the uplift of the Panama Isthmus. These events have shaped organism distribution, which can be described by methods of historical phylogeography. However, the evolutionary history of nonvertebrate organisms in the Neotropics is still largely unknown. This applies to termites, which are particularly diverse and ecologically important. The phylogeography of the soil-feeding termites Embiratermes neotenicus and Embiratermes chagresi (Termitidae: Syntermitinae) was studied across their whole distribution range, using samples of 243 colonies from eight countries. Analyses based on mitochondrial DNA fragments, microsatellite loci, and complete mitochondrial genomes revealed 4 major mitochondrial haplogroups (H1–H4). The H4 haplogroup occurs in northeastern Brazil and diverged first. The other groups appear to be associated with the Pebas System and marine invasions during the Miocene, which may have contributed to the separation of the ancestral population along a north–south axis. The H1 haplogroup was affiliated with E. chagresi. The phylogenomic analysis estimated the divergence of E. chagresi from the other groups to 5 million years ago, aligning with the northern cordillera uplift during the Miocene. Microsatellite data highlighted the isolation of E. neotenicus populations in Suriname and French Guiana, possibly linked to Pleistocene climatic fluctuations. Our study provides insights into the evolutionary history of these species, contributing to a better understanding of how geological and climatic events have influenced species evolution in the Neotropics.

Insect Systematics and DiversityVol. 8(6)
Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja (EC), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR), Université Libre de Bruxelles (BE), Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (JP), Université Paris-Est Créteil (FR), Czech Academy of Sciences (CZ), Université Paris Cité (FR), Czech University of Life Sciences Prague (CZ), Stellenbosch University (ZA), Nord University (NO), Sorbonne Université (FR), Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement (FR), Université Sorbonne Paris Nord (FR), Institute of Entomology (CZ), Universidad Nacional de San Martín (PE), Institut d'écologie et des sciences de l'environnement de Paris (FR), Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry (CZ), Czech Academy of Sciences, Biology Centre (CZ), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (FR), Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco (BR), Universidad del Valle (CO)
Departamento Administrativo de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación (COLCIENCIAS), Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University
Life below water
Openalex Percentile: Top 8%
Plant and animal studies
3.09
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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