On the Atlantic side, range expansion and diversification likely continued northward and westward.
We interpret this as a period of range expansion and diversification of relatively widespread species until the Miocene-Pliocene boundary.
Antonelli et al. [ 44] postulated a strong correlation between climate cooling following the Mid-Miocene Climatic Optimum and range expansion and diversification in Hoffmannseggella.
Alternative hypotheses concerning geographic range evolution and diversification (Pacific vs. Atlantic), were also tested using a geographic state speciation and extinction model (GeoSSE; [ 85]).
This 'reduced dataset' was further used to reconstruct a species-level phylogeny to estimate the divergence times, geographic range evolution and diversification rates of Neotropical troidine species.
Glaciations during the Pleistocene (~2.6 – 0.02 Ma) also played a role in shaping current diversity patterns [ 5]: climatic fluctuations during this period caused regional extinctions [ 6, 7] and promoted range shifts and diversification via allopatric speciation (e.g. [ 8]).
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If we assume a similar relationship in the Mantellidae, the positive correlation between range sizes and substitution rate would contradict the hypothesis that MEP (lineages with both small range and body sizes) promotes diversification.
Indeed, climatic variables have been implicated in studies of species richness and diversification of a wide range of organisms, including angiosperms [ 21], amphibians [ 22], reptiles [ 23], vertebrates [ 24], insects [ 25], and birds [ 26, 27], among others [ 19].
Mean estimates of divergence times were younger and 95% HPDs were wider than those based on the mtDNA data, but supported a relatively ancient divergence between P. sprousei and P. reddelli, a probable origin of P. reddelli near the beginning of the Pleistocene, and range-wide diversification within P. reddelli entirely within the Pleistocene, based on mean estimated divergence dates.
