Evolutionary History of the Galápagos Rail Revealed by Ancient Mitogenomes and Modern Samples

Diversity, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 12(11), P. 425 - 425

Published: Nov. 12, 2020

The biotas of the Galápagos Islands are one best studied island systems and have provided a broad model for insular species’ origins evolution. Nevertheless, some locally endemic taxa, such as Rail Laterallus spilonota, remain poorly characterized. Owing to its elusive behavior, cryptic plumage, restricted distribution, is least vertebrates Galapagos Islands. To date, there no genetic data this species, leaving origins, relationships other levels diversity uncharacterized. This lack information critical given adverse fate rail species around world in recent past. Here, we examine genetics Rails using combination mitogenome de novo assembly with multilocus nuclear mitochondrial sequencing from both modern historical samples. We show that part “American black clade”, sister Black L. jamaicensis, colonization dated 1.2 million years ago. A separate analysis two markers larger population samples demonstrates shallow structure across islands, possibly due elevated connectivity. Additionally, birds Pinta possessed lowest diversity, reflecting past bottlenecks associated overgrazing their habitat by invasive goats. presented here highlight low provide useful guide conservation efforts.

Language: Английский

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A tiny duck (<em>Sibirionetta formozovi</em> sp. nov.), a giant grey partridge (<em>Titanoperdix felixi</em> gen. et sp. nov.), a new rail (<em>Porzana payevskyi</em> sp. nov.), and other birds from the Early Pleistocene of Baikalian Siberia

Biological Communications, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 68(4)

Published: Dec. 31, 2023

The paper describes fossil birds from the Early Pleistocene (Gelasian) of Malye Goly locality in Baikal area East Siberia (Irkutsk Region, Russia). This is first studied bird fauna Northern Asia, shedding light on early Quaternary associations Siberia. A tiny duck Sibirionetta formozovi sp. nov. representative modern genus Sibirionetta, endemic Eastern find documents long-time (at least since Pleistocene) presence these ducks region. new large pheasant-sized phasianid Titanoperdix felixi gen. et a large-sized grey partridge evolutionary lineage (Perdicini). agreement with fact that relatively small partridges (genus Perdix) are phylogenetically nested within larger-bodied pheasants. Among other Tadorna tadorna, three (including one diving form), Perdix cf. dauurica, Porzana payevskyi nov., Podicipedidae indet., Scolopacidae and Corvidae indet. assemblage indicates rather productive water body mostly open landscapes vicinity. avifauna does not show any considerable affinity Late Pliocene avian assemblages Southern Transbaikalia Mongolia, as well China, thus most likely represents separate paleornithogeographical unit. oldest confirmed representatives s.s. record, supporting Asian origin probable out-of-Asia dispersal to North America Pleistocene.

Language: Английский

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Molecular Species Delimitation of Larks (Aves: Alaudidae), and Integrative Taxonomy of the Genus Calandrella, with the Description of a Range-Restricted African Relic Taxon

Diversity, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 12(11), P. 428 - 428

Published: Nov. 13, 2020

Larks constitute an avian family of exceptional cryptic diversity and striking examples convergent evolution. Therefore, traditional morphology-based taxonomy has recurrently failed to reflect evolutionary relationships. While ideally should integrate morphology, vocalizations, behaviour, ecology, genetics, this can be challenging for groups that span several continents including areas are difficult access. Here, we combine morphometrics mitochondrial DNA evaluate the Calandrella larks, with particular focus on African C. cinerea Asian acutirostris complexes. We describe a new range-restricted West taxon, rufipecta ssp. nov. (type locality: Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria), isolated relic population 3000 km from its closest relative in Rift Valley. performed molecular species delimitation, employing coalescence-based multi-rate Poisson Tree Processes (mPTP) cytochrome b sequences across 52 currently recognized lark species, multiple taxa treated as subspecies. Three species-level splits were inferred within genus another 13 other genera, primarily among fragmented sub-Saharan distributed Northwest Africa Arabia or East Africa. Previously unknown divergences date back far Miocene, indicating presence unrecognized species. However, stress taxonomic decisions not based single datasets, such DNA, although analyses good indicator need further integrative assessment.

Language: Английский

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The late Pleistocene-early Holocene rails (Gruiformes: Rallidae) of Laguna de Tagua Tagua Formation, central Chile, with the description of a new extinct giant coot

Journal of South American Earth Sciences, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 104, P. 102839 - 102839

Published: Aug. 27, 2020

Language: Английский

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Characterizing the spatio-temporal threats, conservation hotspots and conservation gaps for the most extinction-prone bird family (Aves: Rallidae)

Royal Society Open Science, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 8(9), P. 210262 - 210262

Published: Sept. 1, 2021

With thousands of vertebrate species now threatened with extinction, there is an urgent need to understand and mitigate the causes wildlife collapse. Rails (Aves: Rallidae), being most extinction-prone bird family globally, one-third extant rail or near threatened, are emphatic case in point. Here, we undertook a global synthesis temporal spatial threat patterns for Rallidae determined conservation priorities gaps. We found two key pathways pattern rails. One follows same trajectory as extinct rails, where island endemic flightless rails mainly due invasive predators. The second, created by diversification anthropogenic activities, involves continental agriculture, natural system modifications, residential commercial development. Indonesia, USA, United Kingdom, New Zealand Cuba were priority countries identified our framework incorporating species' uniqueness level endangerment, but also among that lack actions most. Future efforts should predominantly target improvements ecosystem protection management, well ongoing research monitoring. Forecasting impacts climate change on will be particularly valuable protect

Language: Английский

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Exuberant Life

Oxford University Press eBooks, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: May 19, 2021

Abstract Why is Galápagos so endlessly fascinating, whether to read about, visit, or both? Reasons include its menagerie of truly unusual organisms (like tree daisies, marine iguanas, and flightless cormorants), relatively low human impact (most endemic biodiversity still extant), unrivalled role in the history science ever since Charles Darwin. Exuberant Life offers a contemporary synthesis what known about evolution curiously wonderful Galápagos, how they are faring tumultuous world human-induced change, can guide efforts today for their conservation. In eight case-study chapters, book looks at each organism’s ancestry, when it came why changed arrival, all with an eye conservation today. Such analysis often provides surprises suggestions not previously considered, like potential benefits joint daisies finches, example, ways that new explanation peculiar behaviors Nazca blue-footed boobies benefit both species chapter, social-ecological systems framework used, because influence always present, allows explicit link evolution. We see evolutionary fitnesses now product ecological conditions impact, including climate change. Historically, has played central understanding evolution; teach us may well prove indispensable future planet.

Language: Английский

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Striped Crake (Aenigmatolimnas marginalis)

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

Published: Oct. 22, 2024

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Black-banded Crake (Rufirallus fasciatus)

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

Published: Oct. 22, 2024

Language: Английский

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African Crake (Crecopsis egregia)

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

Published: Oct. 22, 2024

Language: Английский

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Red-and-white Crake (Rufirallus leucopyrrhus)

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

Published: Oct. 22, 2024

Language: Английский

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