MOLECULAR DIVERGENCE IN TWO MEDITERRANEAN SONGBIRD SPECIES OF THE GENUS SYLVIA (AVES: SYLVIIDAE): IMPLICATIONS FOR TAXONOMY AND RESEARCH
Tesi di Dottorato
Data di Pubblicazione:
2016
Citazione:
MOLECULAR DIVERGENCE IN TWO MEDITERRANEAN SONGBIRD SPECIES OF THE GENUS SYLVIA (AVES: SYLVIIDAE): IMPLICATIONS FOR TAXONOMY AND RESEARCH / D. Nespoli ; tutor: D. Rubolini ; coordinator: C. Bandi. DIPARTIMENTO DI BIOSCIENZE, 2016 Jul 04. 28. ciclo, Anno Accademico 2015. [10.13130/nespoli-davide_phd2016-07-04].
Abstract:
Mediterranean region is one of world’s best explored areas in terms of ornithological research and it
is considered a main biodiversity hotspot for the Western Palearctic (Myers et al. 2000), especially
because it played a fundamental role in the divergence and speciation processes for many taxa, due
to dynamics linked mainly to glaciations and salinity crises (Hewitt 1996; Taberlet et al. 1998).
Most taxonomical research in ornithology carried on within this region has been based on
anatomical and morphological differentiation of populations; this could have led to underestimating
the real degree of divergence occurring in some morphologically cryptic populations in the region.
We here analyse genetic divergence in two Sylvia (Aves: Sylviidae) species, formerly suspected of
hiding complexes of cryptic sister species.
We demonstrate the existence of complete molecular diagnosability and strong patterns of
structuration of molecular variability in mitochondrial and nuclear markers for two taxa, which we
propose to elevate to the rank of Confirmed Candidate Species (Galimberti et al. 2012): Sylvia
[sarda] balearica and western Sylvia [cantillans] cantillans.
We simultaneously urge the need to properly re-evaluate conservation status and policies for at least
Sylvia [sarda] balearica, endemic to only a small archipelago.
Molecular identification of migrating and wintering individuals of Sylvia [cantillans] allowed us to
gather the first certain data about the wintering areas of single taxon of the species complex and to
highlight a pattern of great dynamism in their yearly trajectories. We suggest expanding our
preliminary research by coupling a more capillary distribution of ringing efforts in Northern and
Central Africa with molecular identifications of trapped individuals.
Tipologia IRIS:
Tesi di dottorato
Keywords:
Sylvia cantillans; Sylvia sarda; Subalpine Warbler; Marmora's Warbler; phylogeography; molecular divergence; sibling species
Elenco autori:
D. Nespoli
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