Diversification processes of the common cricket Loxoblemmus appendicularis (Orthoptera: Gryllidae) in the Southeastern Taiwan Island
The Loxoblemmus appendicularis complex (LAC) inhabits low hills in Taiwan, where limited flight ability has shaped genetic diversification through geographic isolation and Pleistocene climatic fluctuations. Analyses of mitochondrial 16S rRNA and AFLP data indicate dispersal into southeastern Taiwan via southern low hills around 0.21 Mya, followed by northward expansion across rivers around 0.12–0.14 Mya. Genetic evidence suggests three refugia possibly associated with hot springs, with subsequent postglacial expansion leading to partial genetic admixture. Overall, both geographic barriers and historical climate changes have jointly affected the diversification history of the LAC in southeastern Taiwan.
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