TY - JOUR

T1 - Phylogenomics and species delimitation for effective conservation of manta and devil rays

AU - Hosegood, Jane

AU - Humble, Emily

AU - Ogden, Rob

AU - De Bruyn, Mark

AU - Creer, Simon

AU - Stevens, Guy M W

AU - Abudaya, Mohammed

AU - Bassos-Hull, Kim

AU - Bonfil, Ramon

AU - Fernando, Daniel

AU - Foote, Andrew

AU - Hipperson, Helen

AU - Jabado, Rima W.

AU - Kaden, Jennifer

AU - Moazzam, Muhammad

AU - Peel, Lauren R.

AU - Pollett, Stephen

AU - Ponzo, Alessandro

AU - Poortvliet, Marloes

AU - Salah, Jehad

AU - Senn, Helen

AU - Stewart, Joshua D.

AU - Wintner, Sabine

AU - Carvalho, Gary

PY - 2020/12

Y1 - 2020/12

N2 - Practical biodiversity conservation relies on delineation of biologically meaningful units. Manta and devil rays (Mobulidae) are threatened worldwide, yet morphological similarities and a succession of recent taxonomic changes impede the development of an effective conservation strategy. Here, we generate genome‐wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data from a geographically and taxonomically representative set of manta and devil ray samples to reconstruct phylogenetic relationships and evaluate species boundaries under the general lineage concept. We show that nominal species units supported by alternative data sources constitute independently evolving lineages, and find robust evidence for a putative new species of manta ray in the Gulf of Mexico. Additionally, we uncover substantial incomplete lineage sorting indicating that rapid speciation together with standing variation in ancestral populations has driven phylogenetic uncertainty within Mobulidae. Finally, we detect cryptic diversity in geographically distinct populations, demonstrating that management below the species level may be warranted in certain species. Overall, our study provides a framework for molecular genetic species delimitation that is relevant to wide‐ranging taxa of conservation concern, and highlights the potential for genomic data to support effective management, conservation and law enforcement strategies.

AB - Practical biodiversity conservation relies on delineation of biologically meaningful units. Manta and devil rays (Mobulidae) are threatened worldwide, yet morphological similarities and a succession of recent taxonomic changes impede the development of an effective conservation strategy. Here, we generate genome‐wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data from a geographically and taxonomically representative set of manta and devil ray samples to reconstruct phylogenetic relationships and evaluate species boundaries under the general lineage concept. We show that nominal species units supported by alternative data sources constitute independently evolving lineages, and find robust evidence for a putative new species of manta ray in the Gulf of Mexico. Additionally, we uncover substantial incomplete lineage sorting indicating that rapid speciation together with standing variation in ancestral populations has driven phylogenetic uncertainty within Mobulidae. Finally, we detect cryptic diversity in geographically distinct populations, demonstrating that management below the species level may be warranted in certain species. Overall, our study provides a framework for molecular genetic species delimitation that is relevant to wide‐ranging taxa of conservation concern, and highlights the potential for genomic data to support effective management, conservation and law enforcement strategies.

KW - ddRAD

KW - management

KW - mobulids

KW - single nucleotide polymorphism

KW - taxonomy

U2 - 10.1111/mec.15683

DO - 10.1111/mec.15683

M3 - Article

VL - 29

SP - 4783

EP - 4796

JO - Molecular Ecology

JF - Molecular Ecology

SN - 0962-1083

IS - 24

ER -