Biogeografia e conservação dos morcegos do gênero Rhynchonycteris: integrando filogenética molecular e modelagem de nicho ecológico

Abstract

Rhynchonycteris is a monotypic genus of Embalonurid bats, whose geographic distribution extends from southern Mexico to tropical regions of the South American continent, including Trinidad and Tobago. To date, no study has evaluated the taxonomic status of populations of Rhynchonycteris naso. Often, species that have a wide geographic distribution and that have not been the object of taxonomic studies are revealed to be polytypic. Phylogenetic results presented here support the monophyly of the genus Rhynchonycteris, in addition, the mitochondrial gene COI shows a phylogeographic structure of the populations of Belize and Panama in relation to those of South America. The PCA, and the linear morphometry, indicate an apparent differentiation between the cis-Andean and trans-Andean populations. Furthermore, according to the skull morphology at least two morphotypes were identified. Ecological niche modeling projections in the present have shown that the Andean cordillera acts as a climatic barrier between these two populations. Furthermore, the depression of Yaracuy (Northwest Venezuela) would be the only climatically suitable path that would communicate the two populations. The 2070 climate projections show an increase in regions with adequate climatic conditions for the species. On the other hand, projections at the last glacial maximum showed a drastic decrease in climatically suitable areas for the species. Finally, dating suggests that the common ancestor of the two populations diverged at 0.6±0.4 Ma, coinciding with the Calabrian and Chibanian periods during the Pleistocene. These periods are characterized by decreasing temperatures and increasing climatic cycles.