Within-Island Diversification Generates Lineage-Specific Climate Vulnerability: Insights From the Taiwan-Endemic...

Area of Science:

• * Evolutionary biology
• * Conservation genetics
• * Island biogeography

Background:

• * Global climate change poses significant threats to island endemic species due to limited ranges and dispersal.
• * Conservation strategies require integrating population genomics with ecological data to assess species vulnerability.
• * Genomic studies linking ecological factors and vulnerability in island endemics are scarce.

Purpose of the Study:

• * To investigate the population genetic differentiation of the Formosan Duke (Euthalia formosana), a Taiwan endemic butterfly.
• * To evaluate the butterfly's vulnerability to future climate change by incorporating genomic and ecological data.
• * To develop an evidence-based framework for insular biodiversity conservation under climate change.

Main Methods:

• * Analyzed population genetic differentiation of Euthalia formosana using population genomics.
• * Assessed the influence of topographic barriers, historical connectivity, and climatic heterogeneity on genetic structure.
• * Correlated genetic diversification with environmental gradients and projected climate vulnerability.

Main Results:

• * Pronounced genetic structure was observed in Euthalia formosana, shaped by Taiwan's Central Mountain Range, separating eastern and western lineages.
• * The western lineage exhibited stronger diversification, influenced by environmental gradients, leading to lineage-specific climate vulnerabilities.
• * Within-island diversification was driven by topographic and climatic factors, impacting niche breadth and adaptive capacity.

Conclusions:

• * Genomic approaches are essential for assessing environmental constraints and guiding conservation planning for lowland endemics.
• * Integrating habitat restoration with lineage-specific connectivity can enhance genetic resilience and local adaptation.
• * The study provides a framework for insular biodiversity conservation, emphasizing the need to preserve local adaptation capacity in endemic species facing climate change.