Animal chromosome counts reveal similar range of chromosome numbers but with less polyploidy in animals compared to flowering plants

Abstract

Understanding the mechanisms that underlie chromosome evolution may provide insights into the processes underpinning the origin, persistence, and evolutionary tempo of lineages. Here we present the first database of chromosome counts for animals (the Animal Chromosome Count database, ACC) summarizing chromosome numbers for [~]18,000 species. We found remarkable similarity in the distribution of chromosome counts between animals and flowering plants. At larger timescales, selection towards a specific range might explain the similar distribution of chromosome counts between these two groups. Nevertheless, changes in chromosome number are still potential drivers of divergence among species at shorter timescales. We also found that while animals and plants exhibit similar frequencies of speciation-related changes in chromosome number, plant speciation is more often related to changes in ploidy. Based on the ACC, our analyses suggest that changes in chromosome number alone could help explain patterns of diversity within animal clades.