Cryptic vicariance in the historical assembly of a Baja California peninsular desert biota

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2000 Dec 19;97(26):14438-43. doi: 10.1073/pnas.250413397.

Abstract

We use analyses of phylogeographic population structure across a suite of 12 mammalian, avian, amphibian, and reptilian species and species-groups to assess the role of Late Miocene to Pleistocene geological history in the evolution of a distinct Baja California Peninsular Desert biota. Comparative examination of phylogroup distributions provides support for previously hypothesized vicariant events produced by: a middle Pleistocene midpeninsular seaway, a late Pliocene northward transgression of the Sea of Cortéz, and a Pliocene seaway across the southern peninsular Isthmus of La Paz. Most of this phylogeographic architecture is cryptically embedded within widespread taxonomic species and species-groups, such that the unique evolutionary history of the Peninsular Desert has been obscured and ignored. The Peninsular Desert can no longer be considered a subset of the Sonoran Desert-it is a separate regional desert with its own unique evolutionary history, ecological arena, and conservation value.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amphibians / classification
  • Amphibians / genetics*
  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Birds / classification
  • Birds / genetics*
  • California
  • DNA, Complementary
  • DNA, Mitochondrial / analysis
  • DNA, Mitochondrial / classification
  • Demography
  • Evolution, Molecular*
  • Fossils
  • Mexico
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Phylogeny
  • Reptiles / classification
  • Reptiles / genetics*
  • Rodentia / classification
  • Rodentia / genetics*

Substances

  • DNA, Complementary
  • DNA, Mitochondrial

Associated data

  • GENBANK/AY009173
  • GENBANK/AY009174
  • GENBANK/AY009175
  • GENBANK/AY009176
  • GENBANK/AY009177
  • GENBANK/AY009178
  • GENBANK/AY009179
  • GENBANK/AY009180
  • GENBANK/AY009181
  • GENBANK/AY009182
  • GENBANK/AY009183
  • GENBANK/AY009184
  • GENBANK/AY009185
  • GENBANK/AY009186
  • GENBANK/AY009187
  • GENBANK/AY009188
  • GENBANK/AY009189
  • GENBANK/AY009190
  • GENBANK/AY009191
  • GENBANK/AY009192
  • GENBANK/AY009193
  • GENBANK/AY009194
  • GENBANK/AY009195
  • GENBANK/AY009196
  • GENBANK/AY009197
  • GENBANK/AY009198
  • GENBANK/AY009199
  • GENBANK/AY009200
  • GENBANK/AY009201
  • GENBANK/AY009202