Multi-locus genetic analyses of Quasipaa from throughout its distribution

Abstract

Montane frogs of the genus Quasipaa Dubois, 1992 occur from southern China to Southeast Asia (Frost 2021). Analyses of mtDNA (Cytb) and nuDNA data (Rag1, Rag2, Rhod, Tyr) for samples from 93 localities throughout its distribution yield a phylogeny. Clades A and B occur in Southeast Asia, clade C in northern Yangtze River, China, clade D in southwestern China, and clades E and F in southeastern China. Results place Q. yei within monophyletic Quasipaa and identify two new species. Based on nuDNA data, the basal split of clade A and B indicates an Indochinese origin of Quasipaa. The west-east diversification of five species across South China (Q. spinosa, Q. exilispinosa, Q. jiulongensis, Q. shini, Q. boulengeri) corresponds to topographic terrains II and III of China. Divergence of species from southeastern China (Q. shini, Q. jiulongensis, Q. spinosa, Q. exilispinosa) and southwestern China (Q. boulengeri) dates to 15.30-16.56 Ma (million years ago). A principal component analysis (PCA) and t-test involving 19 bioclimatic variables identifies significantly different environmental conditions between the two regions. Species' distribution models (SDM) for Q. spinosa and Q. boulengeri identify the best areas to be eastern and western South China, respectively. Thus, environmental variation appears to have influenced the genetic divergence and distributions of Quasipaa in South China. Mito-nuclear discordance indicates that some individuals of Q. exilispinosa and Q. spinosa hybridized historically.

Keywords: Indochinese origin; Phylogeny; Quasipaa; West–east divergence.