International Journal of Aquaculture, 2024, Vol.14, No.3, 126-138 http://www.aquapublisher.com/index.php/ija 126 Review Article Open Access The Origins of Aquatic Biodiversity: Phylogenetic Patterns and Historical Biogeography Linhua Zhang, Baohua Dong, Lingfei Jin Institute of Life Science, Jiyang College of Zhejiang A&F University, Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang, China Corresponding author: lingfei.jin@cuixi.org International Journal of Aquaculture, 2024, Vol.14, No.3 doi: 10.5376/ija.2024.14.0014 Received: 15 Apr., 2024 Accepted: 28 Apr., 2024 Published: 19 May., 2024 Copyright © 2024 Zhang et al., This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Zhang L.H., Dong B.H., and Jin L.F., 2024, The origins of aquatic biodiversity: phylogenetic patterns and historical biogeography, International Journal of Aquaculture, 14(3): 126-138 (doi: 10.5376/ija.2024.14.0014) Abstract The origins of aquatic biodiversity are shaped by complex phylogenetic patterns and historical biogeography. This study synthesizes findings from multiple studies to elucidate the evolutionary processes and biogeographic events that have contributed to the current diversity of aquatic species. Key factors include habitat-specific diversification rates, long-distance dispersal, vicariance, and the influence of ancient seaways. For instance, the diversification of marine and freshwater species is often linked to their ancestral habitats, with many marine species descending from marine ancestors and freshwater species from terrestrial ancestors. The biogeographic history of various aquatic taxa, such as syngnatharians and red seaweeds, highlights the role of ancient seas like the Tethys in shaping current distribution patterns through vicariance and dispersal events. Additionally, the evolutionary trajectories of freshwater fish genera in Southeast Asia and the Neotropical region underscore the importance of both colonization events and internal diversification in generating high levels of endemism and species richness. Overall, this study underscores the intricate interplay of phylogenetic and biogeographic factors in the origins of aquatic biodiversity, providing insights into the conservation of these vital ecosystems. Keywords Aquatic biodiversity; Phylogenetic patterns; Historical biogeography; Vicariance; Long-distance dispersal 1 Introduction Aquatic biodiversity encompasses the variety of life forms found in marine, freshwater, and estuarine ecosystems. These ecosystems are home to a vast array of species, each adapted to their unique environmental conditions. The distribution and richness of species in these habitats are influenced by a multitude of factors, including evolutionary history, ecological interactions, and environmental gradients. For instance, freshwater habitats, despite covering only a small fraction of the Earth's surface, exhibit high species richness and exceptional phylogenetic diversity (Román‐Palacios et al., 2022). Similarly, marine ecosystems, though expansive, show distinct patterns of biodiversity shaped by factors such as ocean currents and environmental selection (Ward et al., 2021). Phylogenetic patterns provide insights into the evolutionary relationships among species and the historical processes that have shaped current biodiversity. By examining these patterns, researchers can infer the origins and diversification of species within different habitats. For example, studies have shown that most marine species are descended from marine ancestors, while many freshwater species have terrestrial origins (Román‐Palacios et al., 2022). Understanding these phylogenetic relationships is crucial for identifying the evolutionary pathways that have led to the current distribution of species and for predicting how biodiversity might respond to future environmental changes (Chen et al., 2018; Hammer et al., 2021). Historical biogeography examines the distribution of species over time and the historical events that have influenced their current locations. This field of study is essential for understanding the processes of vicariance, dispersal, and extinction that have shaped the biogeographic patterns observed today. The biogeography of the freshwater fish family Anablepidae reveals how historical marine transgressions and ancient river connections have influenced their distribution (Frota et al., 2020). The diversity of freshwater macroinvertebrates in Neotropical streams is shaped by geographic isolation and local environmental factors (León et al., 2020).
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