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Persistence of a potentially rare mammalian genus (Wyulda) provides evidence for areas of evolutionary refugia within the Kimberley, Australia

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Abstract

Understanding the evolutionary and ecological processes that have shaped current patterns of biodiversity is crucial in the planning and implementation of broad scale conservation management. The temporal and spatial pattern of diversity across a landscape can help identify areas that have acted as climatically stable refugia historically, or do so currently. This has important implications for conservation efforts that try to maximise the evolutionary potential of species, as well as maintaining existing biodiversity. Northern Australia has recently reported catastrophic species decline, particularly in mammals, due to a series of threats. Here we apply an integrative approach utilising molecular analyses and spatial modelling to determine whether disjunct populations of a potentially rare, endemic mammal, the scaly-tailed possum (Wyulda squamicaudata) exhibit differentiation associated with biogeographic barriers or a recent decline. Significant but low genetic differentiation between the east and west Kimberley populations was detected. Principal component analyses indicate potential climatic niche differences that could support recent localised adaptations. Climatic reconstructions back to the last glacial maximum (LGM) indicate areas of suitable habitat have substantially shifted through time for W. squamicaudata and suggest multiple areas of refugia across the Kimberley since the LGM. Further comparative research is required to establish a biogeographical framework that will assist in our understanding of processes that have shaped biodiversity in northern Australia and assist in conservation planning.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the following people and institutions for providing samples or assisting with sample collection: Christina Castellano, Simon Clulow, Rosie Honin, Colin McHenry, David Pearson, Ian Radford, Western Australia Department of Environment and Conservation, Australian Wildlife Conservancy, Western Australian Museum, South Australian Museum and Australian Museum. Paleo-climate data were generously provided by Jeremy VanDerWal. We are also grateful to Craig Moritz for helpful comments on the manuscript. This research was supported by funding from the Chadwick Fellowship (Australian Museum), Australian Geographic Society and Monash University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Acton, Canberra, ACT, 0200, Australia

    Sally Potter & Dan Rosauer

  2. Australian Museum Research Institute, Australian Museum, 6 College St, Sydney, NSW, 2010, Australia

    Sally Potter & Mark D. B. Eldridge

  3. School of Environmental and Life Sciences, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia

    J. Sean Doody

  4. MacMasters Beach, NSW, 2251, Australia

    Myfanwy J. Webb

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  1. Sally Potter
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  2. Dan Rosauer
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  3. J. Sean Doody
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Correspondence to Sally Potter.

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Potter, S., Rosauer, D., Doody, J.S. et al. Persistence of a potentially rare mammalian genus (Wyulda) provides evidence for areas of evolutionary refugia within the Kimberley, Australia. Conserv Genet 15, 1085–1094 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-014-0601-4

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