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Molecular Evolution in Australasian Marsupials

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American and Australasian Marsupials

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Abstract

This chapter outlines the history of molecular evolutionary research in australidelphian marsupials, along with the genetic and genomic advances that have provided insights into the evolution, phylogenetic relationships, adaptation, diversification, development, and conservation of Australasian marsupials. Marsupials have long been a focus of molecular evolutionary research, on account of unique features such as their specialized reproduction, ancient divergence, Gondwanan distribution, and evolutionary convergence with eutherians. Research into molecular evolution in australidelphian marsupials has aimed to: (i) reconstruct their evolutionary history; (ii) understand the mechanisms of molecular and functional evolution; and iii) characterize intraspecific diversification and fine-scale population dynamics to inform conservation management. To address any question in evolutionary biology, a sound framework of the evolutionary history and relationships of taxa is required. Molecular data have been a key source of data for resolving the phylogenetic relationships and timing of divergence of species, as well as the evolutionary processes driving the diversification of Australasian marsupials. Considerable progress has been made in recent decades, and the rapid growth of genome sequence data presents a valuable source of information about marsupial evolution. This chapter explores the growing understanding of molecular evolution in australidelphian marsupials and the insights gained from both individual and comparative studies.

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Acknowledgments

S.P. was funded by the Australian Research Council.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Sally Potter

  2. Australian Museum Research Institute, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia

    Sally Potter & Mark D. B. Eldridge

  3. School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Simon Y. W. Ho

Authors
  1. Sally Potter
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  2. Mark D. B. Eldridge
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  3. Simon Y. W. Ho
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sally Potter .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ecology and Evolution, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil

    Nilton C. Cáceres

  2. School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia

    Christopher R. Dickman

Section Editor information

  1. School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia

    Christopher R. Dickman

  2. Laboratório de Mastozoologia, Departamento de Ecologia e Evolução, CCNE, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil

    Nilton Cáceres Ph.D.

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Potter, S., Eldridge, M.D.B., Ho, S.Y.W. (2023). Molecular Evolution in Australasian Marsupials. In: Cáceres, N.C., Dickman, C.R. (eds) American and Australasian Marsupials. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-08419-5_58

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