Phylogenetic relationship of forest spiny pocket mice (Genus Heteromys) inferred from mitochondrial and nuclear markers with implications for species boundaries

<p>I constructed a best estimate phylogeny based on congruence of multiple data sources. In recent years molecular data has been used both to construct phylogenies of taxonomic groups and to aid in the delimitation of new species. I generated and analyzed sequence data for forest spiny pocket mice (Genus <em>Heteromys</em>) for the mitochondrial gene cyt <em>b</em> (1143 bp) and two nuclear gene segments MYH2 (252 bp) and EN2 (189 bp). I used maximum parsimony and Bayesian analyses to infer relationships among species and to provide a framework for using a species delimitation method to investigate the possibility of multiple species within the widespread <em>Heteromys desmarestianus</em>. I found several well-supported lineages within the <em>H.desmarestianus</em> complex, including <em>H. goldmani</em> and <em>H. oresterus</em>. Incorporating karyotype and allozyme data from earlier studies, I found sufficient supporting evidence to justify maintaining <em>H. goldmani</em> and <em>H. oresterus</em> as species as well as identifying four lineages as candidate species. I present a revised taxonomic arrangement within the genus; the subgenus <em>Heteromys</em> should be divided into three species groups: <em>anomalus</em> (<em>H. anomalus</em> and <em>H. australis</em>), <em>gaumeri</em> (<em>H. gaumeri</em>), and <em>desmarestianus</em> (<em>H. desmarestianus</em>, <em>H. goldmani</em>, <em>H. oresterus</em>, and the four candidate species).</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

MS

Grantor dc:publisher

Brigham Young University - Provo

Author dc:creator

• Gonzalez, Malinda Wallentine

• Heteromys
• phylogeny
• spiny pocket mouse
• species delimitation
• Bayesian
• parsimony
• Biology

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/263

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarsarchive.byu.edu:etd-1262