Integrative taxonomy clarifies the evolution of a cryptic primate clade.

Global biodiversity is under accelerating threats, and species are succumbing to extinction before being described. Madagascar’s biota represents an extreme example of this scenario, with the added complication that much of its endemic biodiversity is cryptic. Here we illustrate best practices for clarifying cryptic diversification processes by presenting an integrative framework that leverages multiple lines of evidence and taxon-informed cut-offs for species delimitation, while placing special emphasis on identifying patterns of isolation by distance. We systematically apply this framework to an entire taxonomically controversial primate clade, the mouse lemurs (genus , family Cheirogaleidae). We demonstrate that species diversity has been overestimated primarily due to the interpretation of geographic variation as speciation, potentially biasing inference of the underlying processes of evolutionary diversification. Following a revised classification, we find that crypsis within the genus is best explained by a model of morphological stasis imposed by stabilizing selection and a neutral process of niche diversification. Finally, by clarifying species limits and defining evolutionarily significant units, we provide new conservation priorities, bridging fundamental and applied objectives in a generalizable framework.

Project(s)

Priority 4: Accelerated Taxonomy

Funder

Funder name	Awards
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Germany	Ra 502/23-1 - Ra 502/7-1 - Ra 502/7-3 - Ra 502/20-1 - Ra 502/20-3 - Ka 1082/8-1 - Ka 1082/8-2 - Ka 1082/19-1 - Ga 342/19
Agence Nationale de la Recherche, France	LABEX CEBA: ANR-10-LABX-25-01 - LABEX TULIP: ANR-10-LABX-0041 - Visiting scientist grant
National Science Foundation, United States	NSFDEB-NERC: 2148914
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Portugal	PTDC/BIA-BEC/100176/2008 - PTDC/BIA-BIC/4476/2012 - BIODIVERSA/0003/2015 - PD/BD/114343/2016 - SFRH/BD/64875/2009
German National High Performance Computing Alliance, Germany	nib00015
Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst, Germany	91529232 - 91565325 - Fellowships
Bauer Foundation, Deutschen Stiftungszentrum, Germany	T237/22985/2012/kg
Rufford Foundation< United Kingdom	RSG-10941-1 - RSG-12973-1 - RSG-15472-1
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, France	BEEG-B IRP
Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung, Germany	01LC1617A
ERA-NET biodivERsA, The Netherlands	2015-138
Lemur Conservation Action Fund, Madagascar
Operation Wallacea, United Kingdom
Landesforschungsförderung Hamburg, Germany
Bundesamt für Naturschutz, Germany
Gesellschaft der Freunde der TiHo, Germany
Institute of Zoology of the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Germany
National Institutes of Health, United States	R35 GM136290
Department of Animal Biology and Ecology, University of Mahajanga
Department of Animal Biology, University of Antananarivo, Madagascar
Madagascar National Parks, Madagascar
NGO Fanamby, Madagascar
Groupe d'étude et de recherche sur les primates de Madagascar, Madagascar
John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, United States
Stiftung Tierärztliche Hochschule Hannover, Germany	Open access funding