Synergistic effects of Pleistocene geological and climatic events on complex phylogeographic history of widespread sympatric species of Megaloptera in East Asia

Unraveling the phylogeographic histories of species remains a key endeavor for comprehending the evolutionary processes contributing to the rich biodiversity and high endemism found in East Asia. In this study, we explored the phylogeographic patterns and demographic histories of three endemic fishfly and dobsonfly species ( Neochauliodes formosanus, Protohermes costalis, and Neoneuromus orientalis) belonging to the holometabolan order Megaloptera. These species, which share a broad and largely overlapping distribution, were analyzed using comprehensive mitogenomic data. Our findings revealed a consistent influence of vicariance on the population isolation of Neoc. formosanus and P. costalis between Hainan, Taiwan, and the East Asian mainland during the early Pleistocene, potentially hindering subsequent colonization of the later diverged Neon. orientalis to these islands. Additionally, we unveiled the dual function of the major mountain ranges in East Asia, serving both as barriers and conduits, in shaping the population structure of all three species. Notably, we demonstrated that these co-distributed species originated from Southwest, Southern, and eastern Central China, respectively, then subsequently migrated along multi-directional routes, leading to their sympatric distribution on the East Asian mainland. Furthermore, our results highlighted the significance of Pleistocene land bridges along the eastern coast of East Asia in facilitating the dispersal of mountain-dwelling insects with low dispersal ability. Overall, this study provides novel insight into the synergistic impact of Pleistocene geological and climatic events in shaping the diversity and distribution of aquatic insects in East Asia.