Gavin Bieber
Well-known member
A new paper out in Condor further indicating that changes in the taxonomic treatment of I. dominicensis is warranted.
Sturge, Rachel J., Frode Jacobsen, Bryan B. Rosensteel, Richie J. Neale, and
Kevin E. Omland 2009. Colonization of South America from Caribbean Islands confirmed by molecular phylogeny with increased taxon sampling. Condor 111: 575-579.
Abstract: A previous phylogeny of New World orioles (*Icterus*) suggested a possible example of island-to-mainland colonization. Using two mitochondrial genes (cytochrome *b* and ND2), that study showed that 43 of the recognized species/ subspecies are divided into three clades (A, B, C). Because of a lack of fresh tissue, however, two key taxa--the South American Orange-crowned Oriole (*I. auricapillus*) and the Caribbean Hispaniola Oriole (*I.** dominicensis dominicensis*)--were missing from that analysis.
To complete the phylogeny, we sequenced both genes for these taxa and
reconstructed a well-supported phylogeny via parsimony and
maximum-likelihood analyses. The addition of *I. d. dominicensis* to the
phylogeny confirms that the Greater Antillean Oriole (*I.** dominicensis*)
is polyphyletic, and taxonomic revision of this species complex is
warranted. Also, the placement of *I. auricapillus* and *I.** d. dominicensis* within clade A has important implications for biogeography.
The revised phylogeny implies that clade A orioles colonized mainland South
America from Caribbean islands. Orioles thus provide a striking example of
reverse colonization that contradicts the traditional assumption in island
biogeography of mainland-to-island colonization.
Sturge, Rachel J., Frode Jacobsen, Bryan B. Rosensteel, Richie J. Neale, and
Kevin E. Omland 2009. Colonization of South America from Caribbean Islands confirmed by molecular phylogeny with increased taxon sampling. Condor 111: 575-579.
Abstract: A previous phylogeny of New World orioles (*Icterus*) suggested a possible example of island-to-mainland colonization. Using two mitochondrial genes (cytochrome *b* and ND2), that study showed that 43 of the recognized species/ subspecies are divided into three clades (A, B, C). Because of a lack of fresh tissue, however, two key taxa--the South American Orange-crowned Oriole (*I. auricapillus*) and the Caribbean Hispaniola Oriole (*I.** dominicensis dominicensis*)--were missing from that analysis.
To complete the phylogeny, we sequenced both genes for these taxa and
reconstructed a well-supported phylogeny via parsimony and
maximum-likelihood analyses. The addition of *I. d. dominicensis* to the
phylogeny confirms that the Greater Antillean Oriole (*I.** dominicensis*)
is polyphyletic, and taxonomic revision of this species complex is
warranted. Also, the placement of *I. auricapillus* and *I.** d. dominicensis* within clade A has important implications for biogeography.
The revised phylogeny implies that clade A orioles colonized mainland South
America from Caribbean islands. Orioles thus provide a striking example of
reverse colonization that contradicts the traditional assumption in island
biogeography of mainland-to-island colonization.
