Contrasting Phylogeographic Patterns of Sandy vs. Rocky Sympatric Sister Species of Supralittoral Tylos Isopods in Chile

TL;DR

Two closely related isopod species in Chile show very different genetic patterns despite living in similar areas, likely due to their different habitats and life histories.

Contribution

This study reveals contrasting phylogeographic patterns in sympatric sister isopod species linked to habitat differences.

Findings

Tylos chilensis shows deep genetic divergence and geographically restricted lineages.

Tylos spinulosus experienced a recent population bottleneck and expansion.

Both species exhibit high population isolation due to limited dispersal.

Abstract

Sister taxa that have diverged and persisted in sympatry have likely been exposed to the same general environmental changes throughout their evolutionary history and may thus exhibit similar phylogeographies. Here, we compare the phylogeographic patterns of two sister species of isopods (genus Tylos) that have broadly overlapping distributions but distinct habitat preferences in the supralittoral zone of Chile. The dynamic geoclimatic history of this region during the Quaternary has been implicated in shaping the evolutionary histories of other coastal taxa.
Tylos spinulosus
is found in sandy beaches at latitudes ~27°–30° S, whereas
Tylos chilensis
has been found in rocky shores at ~27°–33° S and at ~39°–42° S. We sampled both species across their ranges (collectively from 20 localities) and obtained sequences from at least one mitochondrial gene for 95 
T. chilensis
and 41 
T. spinulosus
. We used phylogenetics and population genetics methods to analyze four single‐gene and one concatenated datasets: 12S rDNA (n = 130); 16S rDNA (n = 31); Cytochrome oxidase subunit I (n = 28); Cytochrome b (n = 24); concatenation of the four genes (n = 24). Both species show high levels of isolation of local populations, consistent with expectations from their limited autonomous dispersal potential. However, they exhibit strikingly different mitochondrial phylogeographic patterns.
Tylos chilensis
shows evidence of multiple relatively deep divergence events leading to geographically restricted lineages that appear to have persisted over multiple glaciations. Surprisingly, one lineage of
T. chilensis
was found in geographically distant localities, suggesting the possibility of human‐mediated dispersal.
Tylos spinulosus
appears to have undergone a relatively recent bottleneck followed by a population/range expansion. Differences in life histories and habitat preferences or stochasticity may have contributed to these striking phylogeographic differences. Finally, the high levels of differentiation and isolation among populations indicate that they are highly vulnerable to extirpation. We discuss threats to their persistence and recommendations for their conservation.

We used mitochondrial markers to discover highly contrasting phylogeographic patterns in two sister species of supralittoral isopods (genus Tylos) that have largely overlapping distributions along the coast of Chile.
Tylos chilensis
shows evidence of multiple relatively deep divergence events leading to geographically restricted lineages that appear to have persisted over multiple glaciations. In contrast,
Tylos spinulosus
appears to have undergone a relatively recent bottleneck.

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