Comparative Phylogeography Highlights the Double-Edged Sword of Climate Change Faced by Arctic- and Alpine-Adapted Mammals

Alpine and Arctic-adapted mammals exhibit similar phylogeographic patterns, with genetic diversity remaining stable or expanding post-Pleistocene, contrary to temperate species. This study reveals a shared disjunction separating eastern and Beringian lineages among five small mammal species—Collared Pikas, Hoary Marmots, Brown Lemmings, Arctic Ground Squirrels, and Singing Voles—suggesting simultaneous divergence during Pleistocene glaciations. While four species show no evidence of population contraction, Brown Lemmings display late Quaternary demographic expansion without subsequent decline. The Wrangell-St. Elias region emerges as a critical zone of secondary contact for Nearctic alpine mammals. Despite ecological differences, these findings imply that climate change acts as a double-edged sword: eroding genetic diversity while simultaneously promoting divergence and biodiversity generation.

Lanier, H. C., Gunderson, A. M., Weksler, M., Fedorov, V. B., & Olson, L. E. (2015). Comparative Phylogeography Highlights the Double-Edged Sword of Climate Change Faced by Arctic- and Alpine-Adapted Mammals. Plos One, 10(3), e0118396. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0118396