Diversification of the Balloon bushcrickets (Orthoptera, Hexacentrinae, Aerotegmina) in the East African mountains

East African mountains constitute a network of isolated habitat islands among dry savannah and are thus ideal for studying species diversification processes. This study elucidated the phylogenetic and phylogeographic relationships of all bushcricket species comprising the genus Aerotegmina. Our analysis indicated that large-scale climatic and topographic processes in Africa are likely to have driven speciation in this group, and revealed the cytogenetic traits of the species. Molecular phylogeny supported the monophyly of Aerotegmina and showed that the genus probably originated in the old Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania and Kenya. Two lineages were distinguished: small- and large-sized species with geographically distinct habitats. The underlying processes are thought to be eight dispersals, ten vicariance events, and one extinction event linked to repeated fragmentation of the African rainforest. Those processes, in conjunction with habitat change, probably also led to the spatial separation of the species into a northern clade with a diploid number of chromosomes 2n=32+X0 or 2n=30+neo-XY and a southern clade with a reduced number of chromosomes (2n=28+X0 or 24+neo-X1X2Y). Karyotype analysis suggests that Aerotegmina is currently in the process of speciation.

Automated summary

The East African mountains provide isolated habitat islands for studying species diversification processes. This study on the bushcricket genus Aerotegmina elucidates phylogenetic and phylogeographic relationships, indicating that large-scale climatic and topographic processes likely drove speciation and revealed cytogenetic traits. Molecular phylogeny supports the monophyly of Aerotegmina, showing it probably originated in the Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania and Kenya, with two distinct lineages based on size and geography. The karyotype analysis suggests Aerotegmina is currently undergoing speciation processes.