Multilocus molecular systematics of the circumtropical reef-fish genus (Pomacentridae): history, geography and ecology of speciation.

We investigated a pantropical sub-family and genus of damselfishes, the sergeant-majors (Pomacentridae: Abudefdufinae: ), to identify the tempo and mechanisms of speciation in the lineage. We examined sequence capture data from 500 loci and 20 species, with multiple individuals sampled from across the geographic ranges of widespread species. Utilizing a maximum likelihood framework, as well as a time-calibrated Bayesian phylogeny, the following key questions are addressed: What is the historical tempo of speciation? What are the relative contributions of vicariant, peripatric and parapatric speciation to sergeant-major diversity? How is speciation related to major variation in trophic ecology? The approximately 20 species of sergeant-majors fall into three main lineages.