The effect of range overlap on ecological niche divergence depends on spatial scale in monkeyflowers

Patterns of niche divergence and geographical range overlap of closely related species provide insights into the evolutionary dynamics of ecological niches. When ranges overlap, shared selective pressures may preserve niche similarity along coarse-scale macrohabitat axes (e.g., bioclimates). Alternatively, competitive interactions may drive greater divergence along local-scale microhabitat axes (e.g., micro-topographical features). We tested these hypotheses in 16 species pairs of western North American monkeyflowers (Erythranthe and Diplacus, formerly Mimulus) with estimations of species’ niches, geographic ranges, and a robust phylogeny. We found that macrohabitat niche divergence decreased with increasing range overlap, consistent with convergent selection operating at a coarse scale. No significant relationship was detected for microhabitat niches. Additionally, niche divergence was greater for recently diverged pairs along all macrohabitat niche axes, but greater for distantly diverged pairs along one microhabitat axis related to vegetation cover. For species pairs with partially overlapping ranges, greater microhabitat divergence was detected in sympatry than in allopatry for at least one niche axis for three of four pairs, consistent with character displacement in sympatry. Thus, coarse- and local-scale niche divergence show dissimilar patterns in relation to range overlap and divergence time, perhaps because the relative importance of convergent versus divergent selection depends on spatial scale.