A near-complete and time-calibrated phylogeny of the Old World flycatchers, robins and chats (Aves, Muscicapidae)

Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 178, P. 107646 - 107646

Published: Oct. 17, 2022

The Old World flycatchers, robins and chats (Aves, Muscicapidae) are a diverse songbird family with over three hundred species. Despite continuous efforts the past two decades, there is still no comprehensive well-resolved species-level phylogeny for Muscicapidae. Here we present supermatrix that includes all 50 currently recognized genera ca. 92% of species, built using data from up to 15 mitochondrial 13 nuclear loci. In addition assembling nucleotide sequences available in public databases, also extracted genome assemblies raw sequencing reads GenBank included few unpublished sequences. Our analyses resolved phylogenetic position several previously unsampled taxa, example, Grand Comoro Flycatcher Humblotia flavirostris, Collared Palm Thrush Cichladusa arquata, Taiwan Whistling-Thrush Myophonus insularis, etc. We provide taxonomic recommendations exhibit paraphyly or polyphyly. results suggest Muscicapidae diverged Turdidae (thrushes allies) early Miocene, most recent common ancestors four subfamilies (Muscicapinae, Niltavinae, Cossyphinae Saxicolinae) arose around middle Miocene.

Language: Английский

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A biogeographical appraisal of the threatened South East Africa Montane Archipelago ecoregion

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(1)

Published: March 12, 2024

Abstract Recent biological surveys of ancient inselbergs in southern Malawi and northern Mozambique have led to the discovery description many species new science, overlapping centres endemism across multiple taxa. Combining these endemic taxa with data on geology climate, we propose ‘South East Africa Montane Archipelago’ (SEAMA) as a distinct ecoregion global importance. The encompasses 30 granitic reaching > 1000 m above sea level, hosting largest (Mt Mabu) smallest Lico) mid-elevation rainforests Africa, well biologically unique montane grasslands. Endemic include 127 plants, 45 vertebrates (amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals) invertebrate (butterflies, freshwater crabs), two genera plants reptiles. Existing dated phylogenies animal lineages suggests this arose from divergence events coinciding repeated isolation mountains pan-African forests, together mountains’ great age relative climatic stability. Since 2000, SEAMA has lost 18% its primary humid forest cover (up 43% some sites)—one highest deforestation rates Africa. Urgently rectifying situation, while addressing resource needs local communities, is priority for biodiversity conservation.

Language: Английский

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Limited ecological opportunity influences the tempo of morphological evolution in birds

Current Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 34(3), P. 661 - 669.e4

Published: Jan. 12, 2024

According to classic models of lineage diversification and adaptive radiation, phenotypic evolution should accelerate in the context ecological opportunity slow down when niches become saturated.1Etienne R.S. Cabral J.S. Hagen O. Hartig F. Hurlbert A.H. Pellissier L. Pontarp M. Storch D. A minimal model for latitudinal diversity gradient suggests a dominant role limits.Am. Nat. 2019; 194: E122-E133Crossref PubMed Scopus (28) Google Scholar,2Rabosky D.L. Species richness at continental Scales is dominated by 2015; 185: 572-583Crossref (182) Scholar However, only weak support these ideas has been found nature, perhaps because most analyses make biologically unrealistic assumption that clade members contribute equally reducing opportunity, even they occur different continents or specialize on habitats diets. To view this problem through lens, we adapted new phylogenetic modeling approach accounts fact competition occurs between species coexist share similar Applying method trait data nearly all extant landbirds,3Tobias J.A. Sheard C. Pigot A.L. Devenish A.J.M. Yang J. Sayol Neate-Clegg M.H.C. Alioravainen N. Weeks T.L. Barber R.A. et al.AVONET: morphological, geographical birds.Ecol. Lett. 2022; 25: 581-597Crossref (183) find widespread signature decelerating lineages The strength pattern was consistent across latitudes comparing tropical temperate assemblages. Our results provide little idea increased tighter packing accentuates evolutionary slowdowns tropics instead suggest limited can be an important factor determining rate morphological global scale.

Language: Английский

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Usambara Greenbul (Phyllastrephus albigula)

Birds of the World, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Feb. 21, 2025

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Tiny Greenbul (Phyllastrephus debilis)

Birds of the World, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 14, 2025

Language: Английский

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Plio‐Pleistocene Climatic Fluctuations and Divergence With Gene Flow Drive Continent‐Wide Diversification in an African Bird

Molecular Ecology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: April 21, 2025

ABSTRACT Diversification mechanisms in Sub‐Saharan Africa have long attracted research interest, with varying support for either allopatric or parapatric models of speciation. However, studies seldom been performed across the entire continent, a scale which could elucidate relative importance and divergence. To shed light on continental‐scale patterns African biogeography diversification, we investigated historical demography bird continent‐wide distribution Africa, Yellow‐Rumped Tinkerbird, Pogoniulus bilineatus . We sampled populations from continent and, using genomic data, assessed genetic diversity, structure, differentiation, reconstructed phylogeny, alternative demographic model selection between neighbouring clade pairs. uncovered substantial structure differentiation corroborated phylogenetic topology. Structure was chiefly influenced by arid corridor, postulated biogeographical barrier Africa. Moreover, peak diversities coincided refugial areas while reconstructions lineages supported consistent Pleistocene Forest Refuge hypothesis. within lineages, divergence gene flow supported. Continent‐wide diversification involve an integration both mechanisms, role periods isolation ecological gradients. Furthermore, our study emphasises corridor as primary feature occurs, yet one that has hitherto received scant attention regarding its avian

Language: Английский

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The sustainability of western Africa’s scattered mountains—bumps ahead

Elsevier eBooks, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 109 - 120

Published: Jan. 1, 2024

Language: Английский

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Climate Cycles, Habitat Stability, and Lineage Diversification in an African Biodiversity Hotspot

Diversity, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 15(3), P. 394 - 394

Published: March 9, 2023

The Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania and Kenya, a montane archipelago 13 uplifted fault blocks (sky islands) isolated by lowland arid savanna, are center exceptional biological endemism. Under the influence humid winds from Indian Ocean, forests associated species may have persisted in this region since final uplift these late Miocene. Today, mountains inhabited remarkable diversity bird species. To better understand evolutionary processes behind diversity, we combined molecular phylogenetic studies East African birds with paleoclimate modeling its forests. Across largest barrier, 125 km between Usambara Nguru/Nguu Mountains, 10 14 lineages exhibited phylogeographic break. Using Bayesian methods, established that at least three periods forest contraction expansion affected diversification birds. Habitat distribution models suggest lower-elevation hills acted as stepping-stones connecting highlands to allow for dispersal forest-dependent across them. Periods vicariance during paleoclimatic cycles extending back through Last Glacial Maximum would then populations within they had reached. broad neoendemic Africa provides evidence climate cycling driver lineage diversification. high incidence narrow-range endemism paleoendemic on Usambara, Uluguru, Udzungwa is harder explain. Our retrodicted persistence several sky islands but not Southern Volcanic Highlands. Consistent recent theoretical work, different rates local extinction rather than increased explain pattern excessive some over others. Thus, regional filtering effect generated, paleoendemics maintaining time only areas where habitat persisted, providing credible explanation dramatic variance levels among islands.

Language: Английский

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East Coast Akalat (Sheppardia gunningi)

Birds of the World, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Aug. 2, 2024

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Risks and vulnerabilities to and from Africa’s major mountain ranges (Africa - Introduction)

Elsevier eBooks, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 65 - 72

Published: Jan. 1, 2024

Language: Английский

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