Phylogenetic assessment and historical biogeography of the Psammophis leightoni complex
Loading...
Date
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of the Western Cape
Abstract
Stable and accurate taxonomy remains a primary component of conservation. By overlooking
taxonomic disorder, conservation management strategies may ineffectively distribute
resources. The Psammophis leightoni species complex is one such example where taxonomic
confusion may have an influence on the conservation of threatened species. Psammophis
leightoni, P. namibensis and P. trinasalis were all elevated to specific rank on the basis of
ecological differences largely attributed to where these taxa occur. A molecular revision of
Psammophiinae highlighted that P. leightoni and P. namibensis show levels of intraspecific
divergence; however, this was based on single representatives per putative species.
Psammophis leightoni is currently considered Threatened and is listed as Vulnerable
[B1ab(iii)], but the taxonomic uncertainty surrounding the P. leightoni complex influences
how these taxa should be regarded in a conservation context. To remedy this, I aim to
validate the taxonomic status of members of the P. leightoni complex using phylogenetic
analyses and species distribution modelling (SDM) techniques. Maximum likelihood and
Bayesian inference approaches were applied to ascertain the genetic relationships within the
P. leightoni complex. Uncorrected p-distances were generated to assess the level of
divergence between taxa of the P. leightoni complex relative to its African congeners.
Furthermore, a General Mixed Yule Coalescent model and its Bayesian implementation were
used as tree-based methods for species delimitation. Species distribution models were carried
out using a maximum entropy approach that estimated the climate suitability for these
putative taxa defining their distributions during the last glacial maximum, mid-Holocene and
under current climatic conditions. The phylogenetic analyses recovered all individuals of the
P. leightoni complex in a monophyletic clade. Furthermore, the study taxa show intraspecific
level divergences between taxa of the P. leightoni complex and are suggested to collectively
represent a single taxon based on the species delimitation analyses. Additionally, the species
distribution models showed no difference between these taxa's spatial distribution suggesting
that taxa of the P. leightoni complex are not ecologically distinct. Assuming the P. leightoni
complex represents a single species, meeting the prerequisites of the unified general species
concept, a taxonomic revision is necessary to assign the appropriate taxonomic rank. Both P.
namibensis Broadley, 1975 and P. trinasalis Werner, 1902 should be considered synonyms of
P. leightoni Boulenger, 1902. As a result, P. leightoni should be considered widespread and
in need of a conservation reassessment, potentially removing its current threat status.
Description
Magister Scientiae (Biodiversity and Conservation Biology)