Ancestral Haplotype Retention and Population Expansion Determine the Complicated Population Genetic Structure of the Hilly Lineage of <i>Neolucanus swinhoei</i> Complex (Coleoptera, Lucanidae) on the Subtropical Taiwan Island

Abstract

The present study demonstrates that the complicated genetic structure of the hilly lineage of the Neolucanus swinhoei complex was driven by its biological features and habitat requirements as well as hindrance by the CMR during periodical Pleistocene glaciations. The results revealed a tendency of geographical differentiation and major and sub- lineage divergences before and after the Riss glaciation, followed by stable population growth during Würm glaciation. At least four refugia were inferred for N. swinhoei during the Riss–Würm glaciations. The ancestral haplotype retention in the cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene and compensated substitution in 16S rRNA gene is a possible evolutionary scenario resulting in the inconsistent evolution pattern between COI and 16S rRNA gene coupled with the long-distance dispersal of N. swinhoei. Although the CMR did hinder the dispersal of N. swinhoei, its ancestors may have dispersed to eastern Taiwan through the northern and southern low mountains of the CMR before the Riss glaciation. Our finding suggests that the population growth in the Würm glaciation led a dispersal back to western Taiwan, which is contrast to the more common dispersal scenario from western Taiwan to eastern populations proposed in other studies.

Keywords

• <i>Neolucanus swinhoei</i> complex (NSC)
• ancestral haplotype determination
• mountain hindrance
• dispersal route
• recent population expansion