The shadow of the past: Convergence of young and old South American desert lizards as measured by head shape traits

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Abstract
Convergence is a pervasive phenomenon in the Tree of Life, and evolution of similar phenotypes sharing the same environmental conditions is expected in phylogenetically closely related species. In contrast, contingent factors are probably more influential in shaping phenotypic diversity for distantly related taxa. Here, we test putative convergent evolution of lizard head morphologies among relatively closely related desert dwellingLiolaemusspecies, and the very distantly relatedCtenoblepharys adspersa. We estimated a multilocus time‐calibrated phylogeny of 57 species of South American liolaemus lizards, based on seven molecular markers. We collected head shape data for 468 specimens, and used three phylogenetic comparative methods (SURFACE, CONVEVOL, and WHEATSHEAF index) to test for and estimate the strength of convergence. We found strong evidence for convergence among Pacific desert lizardC. adspersa,Liolaemus audivetulatus,Liolaemus insolitus,Liolaemus poconchilensis,Liolaemus stolzmanni, and a candidate species (Liolaemus“Moquegua”). Our results suggest that, despite the long divergence and phylogenetic distance ofC. adspersawith respect to convergentLiolaemusspecies, natural selection was probably more important than historical contingency in shaping phenotypic evolution in these desert lizards.
Funding Information
  • National Science Foundation (DDIG 1501187, EF 1241885)
  • National Geographic Society (W195‐11)
  • Brigham Young University
  • Fondo para la Investigación Científica y Tecnológica
  • Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
  • Fondo Nacional de Desarrollo Científico, Tecnológico y de Innovación Tecnológica (116‐2017)

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