International Journal of Aquaculture, 2024, Vol.14, No.3, 126-138 http://www.aquapublisher.com/index.php/ija 130 In the context of marine biodiversity, particularly tropical reef fishes, the integration of time-calibrated molecular phylogenies with ancestral biogeographic estimates has provided a framework to examine the origins of coral reef fish biodiversity. This approach has highlighted temporal patterns of marine endemism and tropical provinciality, revealing that the Indo-Australian Archipelago (IAA) serves as a major biodiversity hotspot. The study found that the IAA's biodiversity is maintained by a mixture of paleo- and neo-endemic fishes, suggesting multiple historical processes at play. Enhanced precision in sampling geographic ranges has allowed for the division of discrete realms, regions, and provinces, further elucidating the biogeographic patterns of reef fishes (Cowman et al., 2017). These combined phylogenetic and biogeographic studies underscore the importance of integrating multiple data sources to understand the complex history of aquatic biodiversity. By doing so, researchers can better identify the processes driving species diversification and distribution, ultimately aiding in the conservation of these diverse ecosystems. 4.2 Case studies of integrated approaches One notable case study involves the examination of global biodiversity across land, sea, and freshwater habitats. This study revealed that most plant and animal species are terrestrial, despite terrestrial habitats covering only about 28% of Earth's surface. Marine habitats, which cover approximately 70% of the Earth's surface, have fewer species, while freshwater habitats, despite their tiny area (2%), exhibit relatively high species richness and exceptional phylogenetic diversity. The study found that the relative richness of these habitats is related to variation in diversification rates. Ancestral reconstructions indicated that most marine species are descended from marine ancestors, and most terrestrial species from freshwater ancestors. Interestingly, most extant animal richness in freshwater is derived from terrestrial ancestors, highlighting the complex evolutionary history of these habitats (Román‐Palacios et al., 2022). Another case study focuses on the biogeography of tropical reef fishes, particularly within the Indo-Australian Archipelago (IAA), the largest marine biodiversity hotspot. This region exhibits complex patterns of endemism and species richness gradients. Time-calibrated molecular phylogenies and ancestral biogeographic estimates have been used to examine the origins of coral reef fish biodiversity. The study highlighted that the IAA contains a mixture of paleo- and neo-endemic fishes, suggesting multiple historical processes involved in the origin and maintenance of this biodiversity hotspot. The integration of phylogenetic diversity with ancestral biogeographic estimation has allowed for a more precise division of discrete realms, regions, and provinces across the tropics, enhancing our understanding of tropical provinciality and assemblage structure changes over time (Cowman et al., 2017). 4.3 Insights from integrative analyses Integrative analyses combining phylogenetics and biogeography have provided several key insights into the origins and distribution of aquatic biodiversity. Firstly, these analyses have underscored the importance of historical biogeographic events, such as vicariance and dispersal, in shaping current biodiversity patterns. For instance, the high species richness in freshwater habitats, despite their limited area, can be attributed to historical colonization events from terrestrial ancestors, followed by subsequent diversification (Román‐Palacios et al., 2022). Secondly, the integration of phylogenetic and biogeographic data has revealed the dynamic nature of biodiversity hotspots. The IAA, for example, has been shown to be a region of both species creation and demise, with a complex history of endemism and species turnover. This highlights the role of both historical and contemporary processes in maintaining biodiversity in these regions (Cowman et al., 2017). Lastly, these integrative approaches have emphasized the need for comprehensive sampling and precise geographic range data to accurately reconstruct the evolutionary history of species. Improved sampling and data integration have led to more refined biogeographic classifications and a better understanding of the temporal and spatial dynamics of biodiversity (Cowman et al., 2017).
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