Biogeography of Lihistiidae

Phylogeographical research in the East Asian continent and islands (East Asian Margins, or EAM) suggests predominant Pleistocene over-water dispersal events from continent to islands, but more ancient biogeographical patterns in EAM remain obscure. Our research strongly suggest predominant vicariant origins of EAM island liphistiids. Restricted gene flow following barrier formation is the dominant speciation force in these spiders. As they never seem to cross bodies of water, their past range expansion, successive fragmentation of EAM, and other vicariant events, must have shaped the detected genetic boundaries among and within islands.

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