Genomics reveals broad hybridization in deeply divergent Palearctic grass and water snakes (Natrix spp.)
Language English Country United States Media print-electronic
Document type Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
PubMed
37080398
DOI
10.1016/j.ympev.2023.107787
PII: S1055-7903(23)00087-8
Knihovny.cz E-resources
- Keywords
- Genomics, Hybridization, Molecular clock, Natricidae, Reptilia, Speciation, Squamata,
- MeSH
- Colubridae * MeSH
- Phylogeny MeSH
- Genomics MeSH
- Hybridization, Genetic MeSH
- Genetic Speciation MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Check Tag
- Animals MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
Understanding speciation is one of the cornerstones of biological diversity research. Currently, speciation is often understood as a continuous process of divergence that continues until genetic or other incompatibilities minimize or prevent interbreeding. The Palearctic snake genus Natrix is an ideal group to study speciation, as it comprises taxa representing distinct stages of the speciation process, ranging from widely interbreeding parapatric taxa through parapatric species with very limited gene flow in narrow hybrid zones to widely sympatric species. To understand the evolution of reproductive isolation through time, we have sequenced the genomes of all five species within this genus and two additional subspecies. We used both long-read and short-read methods to sequence and de-novo-assemble two high-quality genomes (Natrix h. helvetica, Natrix n. natrix) to their 1.7 Gb length with a contig N50 of 4.6 Mbp and 1.5 Mbp, respectively, and used these as references to assemble the remaining short-read-based genomes. Our phylogenomic analyses yielded a well-supported dated phylogeny and evidence for a surprisingly complex history of interspecific gene flow, including between widely sympatric species. Furthermore, evidence for gene flow was also found for currently allopatric species pairs. Genetic exchange among these well-defined, distinct, and several million-year-old reptile species emphasizes that speciation and maintenance of species distinctness can occur despite continued genetic exchange.
Department of Ecology Faculty of Science Charles University Viničná 7 12844 Praha 2 Czech Republic
IES Castilla Junta de Castilla Castilla y León 42003 Soria Spain
IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital Unit of Dermatology Via Olgettina 60 20132 Milan Italy
Senckenberg Dresden Museum of Zoology A B Meyer Building 01109 Dresden Germany
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