River barriers and cryptic biodiversity in an evolutionary museum

摘要: The Riverine Barriers Hypothesis (RBH) posits that tropical rivers can be effective barriers to gene flow, based on observations range boundaries often coincide with river barriers. Over the last 160 years, RBH has received attention from various perspectives, a particular focus vertebrates in Amazon Basin. To our knowledge, no molecular assessment of been conducted birds Afrotropics, despite its rich avifauna and many Afrotropical bird species being widely distributed across numerous watersheds basins. Here, we provide first genetic evidence an served as barrier for their lice, four understory collected sites north south Congo River. Our results indicate near-contemporaneous, Pleistocene lineage diversification River these species. further differing levels variation lice; extent this appears linked life-history both host louse. Extensive cryptic diversity likely is harbored forests, lice. Therefore, forests may not “museums” old lineages. Rather, substantial evolutionary have occurred throughout Pleistocene, supporting Forest Refuge Hypothesis. Strong lice within small part Basin forest indicates grossly underestimated making home biodiversity need conservation.