scholarly journals Multilocus, phenotypic, behavioral, and ecological niche analyses provide evidence for two species within Euphonia affinis (Aves, Fringillidae)

ZooKeys ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 952 ◽  
pp. 129-157
Author(s):  
Melisa Vázquez-López ◽  
Juan J. Morrone ◽  
Sandra M. Ramírez-Barrera ◽  
Anuar López-López ◽  
Sahid M. Robles-Bello ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ecological Niche ◽  
Wilcoxon Test ◽  
Ecological Niche Models ◽  
Ecological Data ◽  
Genetic Lineages ◽  
Western Mexico ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
History Of ◽  
Integrative Systematics ◽  
Evolutionary Lineages

The integration of genetic, morphological, behavioral, and ecological information in the analysis of species boundaries has increased, allowing integrative systematics that better reflect the evolutionary history of biological groups. In this context, the goal of this study was to recognize independent evolutionary lineages within Euphonia affinis at the genetic, morphological, and ecological levels. Three subspecies have been described: E. affinis godmani, distributed in the Pacific slope from southern Sonora to Guerrero; E. affinis affinis, from Oaxaca, Chiapas and the Yucatan Peninsula to Costa Rica; and E. affinis olmecorum from Tamaulipas and San Luis Potosi east to northern Chiapas (not recognized by some authors). A multilocus analysis was performed using mitochondrial and nuclear genes. These analyses suggest two genetic lineages: E. godmani and E. affinis, which diverged between 1.34 and 4.3 My, a period in which the ice ages and global cooling fragmented the tropical forests throughout the Neotropics. To analyze morphometric variations, six morphometric measurements were taken, and the Wilcoxon Test was applied to look for sexual dimorphism and differences between the lineages. Behavioral information was included, by performing vocalization analysis which showed significant differences in the temporal characteristics of calls. Finally, Ecological Niche Models were estimated with MaxEnt, and then compared using the method of Broennimann. These analyses showed that the lineage distributed in western Mexico (E. godmani) has a more restricted niche than the eastern lineage (E. affinis) and thus we rejected the hypotheses of niche equivalence and similarity. Based on the combined evidence from genetic, morphological, behavioral, and ecological data, it is concluded that E. affinis (with E. olmecorum as its synonym) and E. godmani represent two independent evolutionary lineages.

scholarly journals The Endangered yellow-headed parrot Amazona oratrix along the Pacific coast of Mexico

Oryx ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 44 (4) ◽  
pp. 602-609 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiberio Cesar Monterrubio-Rico ◽  
Katherine Renton ◽  
Juan Manuel Ortega-Rodríguez ◽  
Alejandro Pérez-Arteaga ◽  
Ramón Cancino-Murillo
Keyword(s):  
Ecological Niche ◽  
Pacific Coast ◽  
Deciduous Forest ◽  
Iucn Red List ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Ecological Niche Models ◽  
Current Range ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Amazona Oratrix ◽  
Niche Models

AbstractThe yellow-headed parrot Amazona oratrix is categorized as Endangered on the IUCN Red List but little is known about its distribution, particularly along the Pacific coast of Mexico. We used ecological niche models, with presence records from museum collections and historical sightings, overlain on vegetation maps, to predict the historical range of the yellow-headed parrot along the Pacific coast of Mexico. We compared this with the current range of the species, estimated with ecological niche models using presence–absence data from surveys during 2003–2008. We estimate that the range of the yellow-headed parrot along Mexico’s Pacific coast has contracted by 79%. The current range may now cover only 18,957 km2, in three main areas. At one of these, a small isolated area on the coast of Jalisco, the species may be vulnerable to extirpation or genetic endogamy. There is a lack of conserved tropical semi-deciduous forest, which provides optimal habitat for reproduction of this parrot, within the current range of the species. Only the south, along the coast of Oaxaca, has extensive areas of this habitat. There are only three, small, protected areas within the species’ current range. Conservation strategies need to be implemented to restore connectivity between the three main areas of the current range of the yellow-headed parrot on the Pacific coast of Mexico.

scholarly journals Novel insights into the historical biogeography of the streak-breasted scimitar babbler complex (Aves: Timaliidae: Pomatorhinus ruficollis complex)

2015 ◽  
Vol 61 (5) ◽  
pp. 910-921 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sushma Reddy ◽  
Árpád S. Nyári
Keyword(s):  
Ecological Niche ◽  
Ecological Niche Modeling ◽  
Southern China ◽  
Hainan Island ◽  
Central China ◽  
Integrative Approach ◽  
Suitable Habitat ◽  
Ecological Niche Models ◽  
Last Interglacial ◽  
History Of

Abstract The Streak-breasted Scimitar Babblers of the Pomatorhinus ruficollis species complex are found in most of the forested habitats across southern and eastern Asia. The diversification history of this group is obscured by high plumage variation across populations and conflicting genetic signal across loci. We combined genetic and geographic data from several recent studies to investigate how these species diversified across China using both phylogenetic and ecological niche modeling analyses. These two lines of evidence are consistent in showing that two well-sampled species, P. reconditus and P. nigrostellatus, in central and southern China respectively, likely experienced a history of isolation and expansion as suitable habitat contracted during the last interglacial and expanded in patchy extent during the glacial maximum. The genetic analysis showed that populations of P. nigrostellatus on Hainan Island are very similar to the ones in nearby mainland southern China. We recovered two well-supported clades within P. reconditus that were not geographically structured with both containing individuals from the same localities across central China. This phylogenetic result corresponded to the ecological niche models that showed expansion from refugia since the last interglacial. This study illustrates the value of using an integrative approach and detailed geographic sampling to help understand the recent diversification of birds in China.

scholarly journals Complex interplay of ancient vicariance and recent patterns of geographical speciation in north-western North American temperate rainforests explains the phylogeny of jumping slugs (Hemphillia spp.)

2019 ◽  
Vol 127 (4) ◽  
pp. 876-889 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew M Rankin ◽  
Thomas Wilke ◽  
Michael Lucid ◽  
William Leonard ◽  
Anahí Espíndola ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pacific Northwest ◽  
Rocky Mountain ◽  
Complex Interplay ◽  
Ancestral Area ◽  
Genetic Lineages ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
History Of ◽  
Biogeographical Analysis ◽  
Temperate Rainforests ◽  
North Western

AbstractThe history of the currently disjunct temperate rainforests of the Pacific Northwest of North America has shaped the evolution and diversity of endemics. This study focuses on how geological and climatic perturbations have driven speciation in the area by isolating lineages. We investigated the phylogenetic relationships and historical biogeography of the endemic jumping slugs (genus Hemphillia) using a multi-locus phylogeny. We evaluated the spatial distribution and divergence times of major lineages, generated ancestral area probabilities and inferred the biogeographical history of the genus. Our study revealed eight genetic lineages that formed three clades: one clade consisting of two Coast/Cascade lineages, and two reciprocally monophyletic clades that each contain a Coast/Cascade and two Rocky Mountains taxa. The results of the biogeographical analysis suggest that the ancestral range of the genus occupied Coast/Cascade habitats and then spread across into Northern Rocky Mountain interior habitats with subsequent fragmentations isolating coastal and inland lineages. Finally, there have been more recent speciation events among three lineage pairs that have shaped shallow structures of all clades. We add to our knowledge of the biogeographical history of the region in that we discovered diversification and speciation events that have occurred in ways more complex than previously thought.

scholarly journals Factors Influencing the Distribution of Endemic Damselflies in Vanuatu

Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 670
Author(s):  
Natalie A. Saxton ◽  
Erica M. Paxman ◽  
Abigail M. Dean ◽  
Colin R. Jensen ◽  
Gareth S. Powell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Natural History ◽  
Ecological Niche ◽  
Strong Predictor ◽  
Ecological Niche Models ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Water Ph ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Distribution And Ecology ◽  
Niche Models

Vanuatubasis Ober and Staniczek is a genus of damselfly endemic to Vanuatu. Little is known about the distribution and general natural history of the genus. We present the results of 14 weeks of fieldwork in Vanuatu to provide a better understanding of the biology of this genus. Specifically, we tested ecological niche models to predict the presence of Vanuatubasis throughout the region and explored how water pH may play a role in their distribution and ecology. The results of this fieldwork refined our model and further predicted the presence of this genus on additional islands. We also found stream pH as a strong predictor for the presence of Vanuatubasis, with their presence in alkaline streams significantly higher (p < 0.001). The mean pH for those streams where the genus was collected was 8.44 (n = 53).

scholarly journals Comparing Measures of Community Lineage Diversity across North American Forests

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyle G. Dexter ◽  
Ricardo A. Segovia ◽  
Andy Griffiths
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Pacific Northwest ◽  
North American ◽  
Conservation Priorities ◽  
Genetic Lineages ◽  
As Species ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Tree Communities ◽  
Evolutionary Lineages ◽  
Lineage Diversity

Lineage diversity can refer to the number of genetic lineages within species or to the number of deeper evolutionary lineages, such as genera or families, within a community. Community lineage diversity (CLD) is of interest to ecologists, evolutionary biologists, biogeographers, and those setting conservation priorities. Despite its relevance, it is not clear how to best quantify CLD. With North American tree communities as an example, we test which taxonomic and phylogenetic metrics best measure CLD. We find that phylogenetic metrics outperform taxonomic metrics. Faith&rsquo;s phylogenetic diversity performs well, but is skewed towards the number of lineages in recent time. The best metric is newly derived here, and termed time integrated lineage diversity (TILD). Mapping the lineage diversity of tree communities across the contiguous United States, we find a spatial pattern differing from that of species richness in key areas. The Pacific Northwest, Great Lakes Region, state of Maine, and south-eastern piedmont and coastal plain forests all emerge as areas high in lineage diversity, but relatively lower in species richness. We urge the consideration of lineage diversity, as well as species richness, when setting conservation priorities.

scholarly journals Comparing Measures of Community Lineage Diversity across North American Forests

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyle G. Dexter ◽  
Ricardo A. Segovia ◽  
Andy Griffiths
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Pacific Northwest ◽  
North American ◽  
Conservation Priorities ◽  
Genetic Lineages ◽  
As Species ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Tree Communities ◽  
Evolutionary Lineages ◽  
Lineage Diversity

Lineage diversity can refer to the number of genetic lineages within species or to the number of deeper evolutionary lineages, such as genera or families, within a community. Community lineage diversity (CLD) is of interest to ecologists, evolutionary biologists, biogeographers, and those setting conservation priorities. Despite its relevance, it is not clear how to best quantify CLD. With North American tree communities as an example, we test which taxonomic and phylogenetic metrics best measure CLD. We find that phylogenetic metrics outperform taxonomic metrics. Faith&rsquo;s phylogenetic diversity performs well, but is skewed towards the number of lineages in recent time. The best metric is newly derived here, and termed time integrated lineage diversity (TILD). Mapping the lineage diversity of tree communities across the contiguous United States, we find a spatial pattern differing from that of species richness in key areas. The Pacific Northwest, Great Lakes Region, state of Maine, and south-eastern piedmont and coastal plain forests all emerge as areas high in lineage diversity, but relatively lower in species richness. We urge the consideration of lineage diversity, as well as species richness, when setting conservation priorities.

A Short history of the post-graduate surgical training in Fiji - where to from here?

2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 103-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jitoko Kelepi Cama ◽  
Sonal Singh Nagra
Keyword(s):  
Surgical Training ◽  
Training Programme ◽  
Post Graduate ◽  
School Of Medicine ◽  
Postgraduate Training Programme ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
National University ◽  
History Of ◽  
Training Of Surgeons ◽  
Pacific Island Nations

Post-graduate surgical training at the Fiji National University (FNU), previously known as the Fiji School of Medicine) has recently been updated by incorporating elements from the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) training curriculum. The revised curriculum maintains strong contextual relevance to the needs and pathologies of the Pacific Island nations.  This paper outlines why the FNU surgical postgraduate training programme should be applauded as a successful programme in the training of surgeons for the region.

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