Genomic Insights Into Species Delimitation and the Evolutionary History of Mimetic Aletis Moths (Lepidoptera, Geometridae) in the Afrotropics
Lee, Kyung Min ; Staude, Hermann ; Holm, Sille ; Laiho, Elina ; Murillo-Ramos, Leidys LU
; Opedal, Øystein H.
LU
; Rajaei, Hossein
; Terblanche, Reinier F.
; Botha, Magda
and Sihvonen, Pasi
(2025)
In Ecology and Evolution
15(12).
- Abstract
The evolutionary dynamics of diurnal Aletis moths (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Sterrhinae) in the Afrotropics have been obscured by their allopatric distributions, significant inter- and intraspecific variation in adult and caterpillar phenotypes, and involvement in complex mimicry systems. Extensive phenotypic disparity, alongside conserved genital morphology and a lack of suitable material for genomic studies, has complicated species delineation. To elucidate species boundaries within Aletis, as well as explore their evolutionary history, divergence times, and patterns of population genetic structure, we collected fresh specimens of both caterpillars and adults across the Aletis distribution in South Africa and Uganda. We then conducted... (More)
The evolutionary dynamics of diurnal Aletis moths (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Sterrhinae) in the Afrotropics have been obscured by their allopatric distributions, significant inter- and intraspecific variation in adult and caterpillar phenotypes, and involvement in complex mimicry systems. Extensive phenotypic disparity, alongside conserved genital morphology and a lack of suitable material for genomic studies, has complicated species delineation. To elucidate species boundaries within Aletis, as well as explore their evolutionary history, divergence times, and patterns of population genetic structure, we collected fresh specimens of both caterpillars and adults across the Aletis distribution in South Africa and Uganda. We then conducted analyses using mitochondrial DNA and genome-wide SNP data from ddRAD sequencing. Our finding supports the hypothesis of five distinct species in the study areas: Aletis variabilis, A. helcita, A. erici, A. libyssa and A. concolor. The mtDNA divergences range from 4.2% to 11.5%, while genomic data indicating diversification began 0.9 million years ago (Mya), and more recent divergence events occurred between 0.35 and 0.27 Mya. In eastern South Africa, we identified distinct northern and southern genetic lineages, potentially shaped by Pleistocene isolation influenced by climate, whereas in Uganda, habitat and/or altitudinal variation appears to play a key role in their isolation. Notable genetic admixture was found within both northern and southern South African regions, along with gene flow from Uganda to northern South Africa, and extensive internal gene flow among southern populations. We conclude that habitat fragmentation, leading to the patchy occurrence of caterpillar host plants, has contributed to increased genetic isolation and allopatric speciation. We also emphasize the critical conservation needs for preserving genetic diversity, which is essential for resilience in the rapidly changing Afrotropical landscape.
(Less)
- author
- Lee, Kyung Min
; Staude, Hermann
; Holm, Sille
; Laiho, Elina
; Murillo-Ramos, Leidys
LU
; Opedal, Øystein H.
LU
; Rajaei, Hossein
; Terblanche, Reinier F.
; Botha, Magda
and Sihvonen, Pasi
- organization
- publishing date
- 2025-12
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- allopatry, caterpillar, ddRAD-sequencing, gene flow, Lepidoptera, mimicry, molecular phylogeny, radiation, speciation, species delimitation
- in
- Ecology and Evolution
- volume
- 15
- issue
- 12
- article number
- e72745
- publisher
- Wiley-Blackwell
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:105025239684
- pmid:41426616
- ISSN
- 2045-7758
- DOI
- 10.1002/ece3.72745
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- cb7db391-d3a9-492e-a781-85d1513c3eb4
- date added to LUP
- 2026-02-12 16:17:24
- date last changed
- 2026-02-13 03:00:04
@article{cb7db391-d3a9-492e-a781-85d1513c3eb4,
abstract = {{<p>The evolutionary dynamics of diurnal Aletis moths (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Sterrhinae) in the Afrotropics have been obscured by their allopatric distributions, significant inter- and intraspecific variation in adult and caterpillar phenotypes, and involvement in complex mimicry systems. Extensive phenotypic disparity, alongside conserved genital morphology and a lack of suitable material for genomic studies, has complicated species delineation. To elucidate species boundaries within Aletis, as well as explore their evolutionary history, divergence times, and patterns of population genetic structure, we collected fresh specimens of both caterpillars and adults across the Aletis distribution in South Africa and Uganda. We then conducted analyses using mitochondrial DNA and genome-wide SNP data from ddRAD sequencing. Our finding supports the hypothesis of five distinct species in the study areas: Aletis variabilis, A. helcita, A. erici, A. libyssa and A. concolor. The mtDNA divergences range from 4.2% to 11.5%, while genomic data indicating diversification began 0.9 million years ago (Mya), and more recent divergence events occurred between 0.35 and 0.27 Mya. In eastern South Africa, we identified distinct northern and southern genetic lineages, potentially shaped by Pleistocene isolation influenced by climate, whereas in Uganda, habitat and/or altitudinal variation appears to play a key role in their isolation. Notable genetic admixture was found within both northern and southern South African regions, along with gene flow from Uganda to northern South Africa, and extensive internal gene flow among southern populations. We conclude that habitat fragmentation, leading to the patchy occurrence of caterpillar host plants, has contributed to increased genetic isolation and allopatric speciation. We also emphasize the critical conservation needs for preserving genetic diversity, which is essential for resilience in the rapidly changing Afrotropical landscape.</p>}},
author = {{Lee, Kyung Min and Staude, Hermann and Holm, Sille and Laiho, Elina and Murillo-Ramos, Leidys and Opedal, Øystein H. and Rajaei, Hossein and Terblanche, Reinier F. and Botha, Magda and Sihvonen, Pasi}},
issn = {{2045-7758}},
keywords = {{allopatry; caterpillar; ddRAD-sequencing; gene flow; Lepidoptera; mimicry; molecular phylogeny; radiation; speciation; species delimitation}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{12}},
publisher = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
series = {{Ecology and Evolution}},
title = {{Genomic Insights Into Species Delimitation and the Evolutionary History of Mimetic Aletis Moths (Lepidoptera, Geometridae) in the Afrotropics}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ece3.72745}},
doi = {{10.1002/ece3.72745}},
volume = {{15}},
year = {{2025}},
}