Cryptic speciation in gentoo penguins is driven by geographic isolation and regional marine conditions: Unforeseen vulnerabilities to global change

摘要: Aim: The conservation of biodiversity is hampered by data deficiencies, with many new species and subspecies awaiting description or reclassification. Population genomics ecological niche modelling offer complementary tools for uncovering functional units phylogenetic diversity. We hypothesize that phylogenetically delineated lineages gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua) distributed across Antarctica sub-Antarctic Islands are subject to spatially explicit conditions have limited gene flow, facilitating genetic differentiation, thereby speciation processes. Location: area. Methods: identify divergent using ddRAD-seq mtDNA, generated distribution models (SDMs) based on terrestrial marine parameters. Results: Analyses our genomic supports the existence four major penguin: (i) spanning archipelagos north Antarctic Polar Front (APF); (ii) Kerguelen Island; (iii) South America; (iv) maritime Scotia Arc archipelagos. APF, a current system around Antarctica, acts as most important barrier separating regional sister lineages. Our analyses both (breeding sites) (feeding realms recover overlap among penguin. observe this pattern correspond more closely differentiation than macroenvironmental features. Main conclusions: Recognition discrete evolutionary entities occupy distinct niches also differ morphologically should be considered priority conservation. Gentoo provide good example how policy can directly impacted insights obtained through integration larger datasets novel approaches modelling. This particularly pertinent polar environments rapidly changing earth.