Evolutionary radiation in canids following continental colonizations.

Area of Science:

• Evolutionary biology
• Paleontology
• Zoology

Background:

• Colonization of new environments can lead to evolutionary radiations, but the frequency of this phenomenon is not well understood.
• The Caninae subfamily (canids) has a global distribution, making them a suitable model for studying dispersal and diversification.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate whether the worldwide dispersal of Caninae triggered evolutionary radiations.
• To estimate speciation and extinction rates across canid clades and through time.

Main Methods:

• Phylogenetic analyses of 56 extant and extinct Caninae species.
• Ancestral range estimation to reconstruct historical distributions.
• Analysis of speciation and extinction rates.

Main Results:

• Canids experienced an evolutionary radiation event around 11 million years ago upon reaching Eurasia and South America.
• Diversification was linked to ecological opportunities, continental differences, and interactions with other carnivores.
• Grassland expansion and new herbivore fauna drove wolf diversification in North America.
• Empty niches and lack of competition facilitated canid success in Africa and South America.

Conclusions:

• Canine dispersal to new continents demonstrably triggered evolutionary radiations.
• Ecological factors, including habitat changes and interspecific interactions, are key drivers of canid diversification.
• Understanding these dynamics provides insights into macroevolutionary patterns in mammals.