Nuclear and Mitochondrial Phylogenomics of the Sifakas Reveal Cryptic Variation in the Diademed Sifaka.
Melissa T R Hawkins, Carolyn A Bailey, Allyshia M Brown, Jen Tinsman, Ryan A Hagenson, Ryan R Culligan, Adena G Barela, Jean C Randriamanana, Jean F Ranaivoarisoa, John R Zaonarivelo, Edward E Louis
Author Information
Melissa T R Hawkins: Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Division of Mammals, National Museum of Natural History, 10th and Constitution Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20560, USA. ORCID
Carolyn A Bailey: Department of Conservation Genetics, Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium, 3701 S 10th St, Omaha, NE 68107, USA.
Allyshia M Brown: Department of Conservation Genetics, Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium, 3701 S 10th St, Omaha, NE 68107, USA. ORCID
Jen Tinsman: Department of Conservation Genetics, Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium, 3701 S 10th St, Omaha, NE 68107, USA. ORCID
Ryan A Hagenson: Department of Conservation Genetics, Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium, 3701 S 10th St, Omaha, NE 68107, USA. ORCID
Ryan R Culligan: Department of Conservation Genetics, Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium, 3701 S 10th St, Omaha, NE 68107, USA. ORCID
Adena G Barela: Department of Conservation Genetics, Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium, 3701 S 10th St, Omaha, NE 68107, USA.
Jean C Randriamanana: Madagascar Biodiversity Partnership, VO12 Bis a Manakambahiny, Antananarivo 101, Madagascar.
Jean F Ranaivoarisoa: Anthropobiologie et Développement Durable, Faculty of Sciences, University of Antananarivo, Antananarivo 101, Madagascar. ORCID
John R Zaonarivelo: Faculty of Sciences, Président du Collège des Enseignants, University of Antsiranana, Antsiranana 201, Madagascar.
Edward E Louis: Department of Conservation Genetics, Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium, 3701 S 10th St, Omaha, NE 68107, USA.
The most comprehensive phylogenomic reconstruction to date was generated on all nominal taxa within the lemur genus Propithecus. Over 200 wild-caught individuals were included in this study to evaluate the intra and interspecific relationships across this genus. Ultraconserved Elements (UCEs) resulted in well-supported phylogenomic trees. Complete mitochondrial genomes (CMGs) largely agreed with the UCEs, except where a mitochondrial introgression was detected between one clade of the diademed sifaka (Propithecus diadema) and the Milne-Edwards sifaka (P. edwardsi). Additionally, the crowned (P. coronatus) and Von der Decken’s (P. deckeni) sifakas belonged to a single admixed lineage from UCEs. Further sampling across these two species is warranted to determine if our sampling represents a hybrid zone. P. diadema recovered two well-supported clades, which were dated and estimated as being ancient as the split between the Perrier’s (P. perrierii) and silky (P. candidus) sifakas. The reconstructed demographic history of the two clades also varied over time. We then modeled the modern ecological niches of the two cryptic P. diadema clades and found that they were significantly diverged (p < 0.01). These ecological differences result in a very limited zone of geographic overlap for the P. diadema clades (<60 km2). Niche models also revealed that the Onive River acts as a potential barrier to dispersal between P. diadema and P. edwardsi. Further taxonomic work is required on P. diadema to determine if its taxonomic status should be revised. This first genomic evaluation of the genus resolved the relationships between the taxa and the recovered cryptic diversity within one species.
