02303nas a2200265 4500008004100000245012500041210006900166260001200235520144100247653001901688653002001707653002001727653001901747653002901766100002301795700001801818700001801836700002501854700001901879700001701898700001701915700002001932700002401952856006101976 2020 eng d00aGenetic diversity of soil invertebrates corroborates timing estimates for past collapses of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet0 aGenetic diversity of soil invertebrates corroborates timing esti c08/20203 a

During austral summer field seasons between 1999 and 2018, we sampled at 91 locations throughout southern Victoria Land and along the Transantarctic Mountains for six species of endemic microarthropods (Collembola), covering a latitudinal range from 76.0°S to 87.3°S. We assembled individual mitochondrial cyto-chrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI) sequences (n = 866) and found high levels of sequence divergence at both small (<10 km) and large (>600 km) spatial scales for four of the six Collembola species. We applied molecular clock estimates and assessed genetic divergences relative to the timing of past glacial cycles, including collapses of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS). We found that genetically distinct lineages within three species have likely been isolated for at least 5.54 My to 3.52 My, while the other three species diverged more recently (<2 My). We suggest that Collembola had greater dispersal opportunities under past warmer climates, via flotation along coastal margins. Similarly increased opportunities for dispersal may occur under contemporary climate warming scenarios, which could influence the genetic structure of extant populations. As Collembola are a living record of past landscape evolution within Antarctica, these findings provide biological evidence to support geological and glaciological estimates of historical WAIS dynamics over the last ca. 5 My.

10aclimate change10amicroarthropods10amolecular clock10aphylogeography10aterrestrial biodiversity1 aCollins, Gemma, E.1 aHogg, Ian, D.1 aConvey, Peter1 aSancho, Leopoldo, G.1 aCowan, Don, A.1 aLyons, Berry1 aAdams, Byron1 aWall, Diana, H.1 aGreen, T., G. Allan uhttps://www.pnas.org/content/early/2020/08/19/2007925117