Quaternary origin and genetic divergence of the endemic cactus Mammillaria pectinifera in a changing landscape in the Tehuacán Valley, Mexico.
The endemic Mexican cactus, Mammillaria pectinifera, shows low dispersal capabilities and isolated populations within the highly dissected landscape of Tehuacán Valley. These characteristics can restrict gene flow and act upon the genetic divergence and speciation in arid plants. We conducted a phylogeographic study to determine if the origin, current distribution, and genetic structure of M. pectinifera were driven by Quaternary geomorphic processes. Sequences of the plastids psbA-trnH and trnT-trnL obtained from 66 individuals from seven populations were used to estimate genetic diversity. Population differentiation was assessed by an analysis of molecular variance. We applied a stepwise phylogenetic calibration test to determine whether species origin and genetic divergence among haplotypes were temporally concordant with recognizable episodes of geomorphic evolution. The combination of plastid markers yielded six haplotypes, with high levels of haplotype diversity (h = 0.622) and low nucleotide diversity (π = 0.00085). The populations were found to be genetically structured (F(ST) = 0.682; P < 0.00001), indicating that geographic isolation and limited dispersal were the primary causes of genetic population differentiation. The estimated origin and divergence time among haplotypes were 0.017-2.39 and 0.019-1.237 mya, respectively, which correlates with Pleistocene tectonics and erosion events, supporting a hypothesis of geomorphically-driven geographical isolation. Based on a Bayesian skyline plot, these populations showed long term demographic stability, indicating that persistence in confined habitats has been the main response of this species to landscape changes. We conclude that the origin and haplotype divergence of M. pectinifera were a response to local Quaternary geomorphic evolution.
Doctorado en Ciencias Biológicas y de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, D.F., México.
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Cornejo-Romero
Department of Geography, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom.
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Medina-Sánchez
Departamento de Biología Evolutiva, Instituto de Ecología A.C., Xalapa, Veracruz, México.
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Hernández-Hernández
Departamento de Biología, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, D.F., México bra@xanum.uam.mx.
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Rendón-Aguilar
Departamento de Biología, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, D.F., México.
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Valverde
Departamento de Biología, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, D.F., México.
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Zavala-Hurtado
Escuela de Biología, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla, México.
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Rivas-Arancibia
Departamento de Biología, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, D.F., México.
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Pérez-Hernández
Departamento de Biología, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, D.F., México.
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López-Ortega
Departamento de Biología, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, D.F., México.
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Jiménez-Sierra
Departamento de Zoología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, D.F., México.
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Vargas-Mendoza
D029421:Cactaceae / Q000235:genetics*; D017753:Ecosystem; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D006239:Haplotypes; D008800:Mexico; D058974:Phylogeography; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic