Volume 52, Issue 8 e15162
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Biogeography and Niche Evolution of Odorrana schmackeri Complex in Southern China

Shize Li

Shize Li

Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction in the Plateau Mountainous Region (Ministry of Education), College of Life Sciences, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China

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Bin Wang

Bin Wang

Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, China

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Jing Liu

Jing Liu

College of Forestry, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China

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Haijun Su

Haijun Su

College of Forestry, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China

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Gang Wei

Gang Wei

Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory, Guiyang College, Guiyang, China

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Lang Mu

Lang Mu

College of Forestry, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China

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Tuo Shen

Tuo Shen

College of Forestry, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China

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Zhitong Lyu

Zhitong Lyu

Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, China

State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol/The Museum of Biology, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China

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Yingyong Wang

Yingyong Wang

State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol/The Museum of Biology, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China

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Houqiang Xu

Corresponding Author

Houqiang Xu

Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction in the Plateau Mountainous Region (Ministry of Education), College of Life Sciences, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China

Correspondence:

Houqiang Xu ([email protected])

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First published: 21 May 2025

Funding: This work was supported by the Projects from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos 32270498, 31960099, 32260136, and 32070426), the West Light Foundation of The Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. 2021XBZG_XBQNXZ_A_006), the Guizhou Provincial Science and Technology Projects (No. ZK[2022]540), the Forestry Science and Technology Research Project of Guizhou Forestry Department (Nos [2020]13 and [2020]04), the Guizhou Provincial Department of Education Youth Science and Technology Talents Growth Project (No. ZK[2022]540, and KY[2020]234) and the High-Level Personnel Research Start-Up Funding Projects of Moutai Institute (Nos mygccrc[2022]055, mygccrc[2022]067 and mygccrc[2022]083).

ABSTRACT

Aim

The Odorrana schmackeri complex (OSC), widely distributed across southern China, presents intriguing mysteries regarding its diversification dynamics. Resolving these evolutionary enigmas would establish a crucial foundation for understanding biogeographic evolution in this topographically complex region. Therefore, we integrated phylogenetic, demographic, and ecological niche analyses to elucidate the roles of ancient tectonism, Quaternary climatic fluctuations, and niche evolution in shaping its diversification and distribution.

Location

Southern China.

Methods

Using two mitochondrial and eight nuclear genes, we reconstructed phylogenetic relationships, estimated divergence times and assessed population dynamics. Ecological niche models (ENMs) were optimised via the ‘Kuenm’ package, and niche overlap, equivalency, and similarity were quantified using the ‘ecospat’ R package. Acestral niche and climatic tolerances reconstruction were used in the ‘phyloclim’ package.

Results

The OSC comprises nine species and originated from a mid-Miocene ancestor (~12.55 Ma). Mitochondrial phylogeny resolved four deeply divergent clades, while nuclear gene phylogeny revealed incomplete lineage sorting (ILS) and historical gene flow (STRUCTURE, K = 7; JML, p > 0.05). Post-last glacial maximum (LGM) expansions (~0.02 Ma) facilitated secondary contact in sympatric zones, where niche conservatism dominated between sister species. Ancestral niche reconstruction identified precipitation variables as key drivers of early divergence, while thermal tolerances evolved conservatively. The results indicated that Miocene uplift of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (~12.55–8.70 Ma) promoted southward expansion, while Pliocene-Pleistocene (~5.58–2.40 Ma) river reorganisations fragmented and later connected populations.

Main Conclusions

The OSC's diversification reflects the interplay between Miocene–Pliocene tectonism and Quaternary climatic cycles. While ancestral niche divergence along precipitation gradients initiated speciation, post-LGM sympatry favoured conservatism in thermal microhabitats. Combining multilocus phylogenetics, demographic inference, and niche modelling resolves the rapid-radiating models in the frog complex and highlights the dynamic roles of landscape features in shaping biogeographic patterns of them.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Data Availability Statement

The data that supports the findings of this study are available in the Supporting Information of this article.

The full text of this article hosted at iucr.org is unavailable due to technical difficulties.