Procellariiformes (6 Viewers)

[Peter Kovalik]

Puffinus spp.

Raül Ramos, Vitor H Paiva, Zuzana Zajková, Carine Precheur, Ana Isabel Fagundes, Patrick G R Jodice, William Mackin, Francis Zino, Vincent Bretagnolle, Jacob González-Solís, Spatial ecology of closely related taxa: the case of the little shearwater complex in the North Atlantic Ocean, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, , zlaa045, https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaa045

Abstract:

Seabirds inhabiting vast water masses provide numerous examples where opposing phenomena, such as natal and breeding philopatry vs. vagility have dug cryptic taxonomic boundaries among closely related taxa. The taxonomy of little shearwaters of the North Atlantic Ocean (Little–Audubon’s shearwater complex, Puffinus assimilis–lherminieri) still remains unclear, and complementary information on non-breeding distributions and at-sea behaviour becomes essential to unravel divergent local adaptations to specific habitats. Using miniaturized light-level geolocators from seven study areas in the North Atlantic, we evaluate the spatial and habitat segregation, estimate the timing of their key life-cycle events and describe the at-sea behaviour of three taxa of these little shearwaters year-round to distinguish ecological patterns and specializations that could ultimately unravel potential lineage divergences. We also assess morphometric data from birds that were breeding at each study area to further discuss potential adaptations to specific habitats. Our results show that, while birds from different taxa segregated in space and habitats, they share ecological plasticity, similar annual phenology and diel foraging behaviour. These ecological inconsistencies, while defining the evolutionary stressors faced by these taxa, do not suggest the existence of three Evolutionary Significant Units. However, they confirm the recent evolutionary divergence among the three little shearwaters of the North Atlantic.

 

[Jim LeNomenclatoriste]

Since I can't get the article, what are their conclusions? Should we treat P. baroli, boydi and lherminieri as distinct species or subspecies?

 

[Paul Clapham]

The authors are not making any such recommendations. The closest thing that I can see in the article is this:

However, there is evidence that PBOY may be more closely related to PLHE in the Caribbean than to the more proximate breeding PBAR, and should instead be treated as a subspecies of P. lherminieri...

 

[Jim LeNomenclatoriste]

Puffinus puffinus canariensis ssp. nov.

Airam Rodríguez, Beneharo Rodríguez, Tinguaro Montelongo, Joan Garcia‐Porta, Tania Pipa, Martin Carty, Jóhannis Danielsen, João Nunes, Carlos Silva, Pedro Geraldes, Félix M Medina & Juan Carlos Illera (2020). Cryptic differentiation in the Manx Shearwater hinders the identification of a new endemic subspecies
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jav.02633

Abstract
The taxonomy of Procellariiformes, particularly petrels and shearwaters, is still unresolved. The Manx shearwater Puffinus puffinus is one of the best studied seabirds worldwide. Most of the information known on this seabird is focused on the northern core populations where the species is abundant. However, the species shows a high number of peripheral populations, which are extremely small and difficult to study in comparison to central populations. Using an integrative approach, we provided significant evidence of phenological, morphological, acoustic, plumage colour, and genetic differentiation of the Canarian Manx shearwaters (the most southern population) from the northern breeding colonies, which is compatible with a long period of isolation. Birds from the Canary Islands breed around 2‐3 months earlier, are smaller and lighter, and show darker underwing plumage than those from northern populations. In addition, Canarian call features are different from the northern populations. Finally, genetic analyses of the mitochondrial control region indicate an incipient genetic differentiation of Canarian Manx shearwaters from the other breeding populations. The Canarian population holds a small number of breeding colonies and it is declining, so accurate taxonomic recognition critically affects conservation efforts. For all the aforementioned reasons, we propose to rank the Canarian breeding population as a new taxon by presenting the formal description of a new subspecies Puffinus puffinus canariensis ssp. nova.

 

[Peter Kovalik]

Joan Ferrer Obiol, Helen F James, R Terry Chesser, Vincent Bretagnolle, Jacob González-Solís, Julio Rozas, Marta Riutort, and Andreanna J Welch. 2021. Integrating sequence capture and restriction site-associated DNA sequencing to resolve recent radiations of pelagic seabirds. Systematic Biology. published 29 January 2021.
https://doi.org/10.1093/sysbio/syaa101, open access.

Abstract:

The diversification of modern birds has been shaped by a number of radiations. Rapid diversification events make reconstructing the evolutionary relationships among taxa challenging due to the convoluted effects of incomplete lineage sorting (ILS) and introgression. Phylogenomic datasets have the potential to detect patterns of phylogenetic incongruence, and to address their causes. However, the footprints of ILS and introgression on sequence data can vary between different phylogenomic markers at different phylogenetic scales depending on factors such as their evolutionary rates or their selection pressures. We show that combining phylogenomic markers that evolve at different rates, such as paired-end double-digest restriction site-associated DNA (PE-ddRAD) and ultraconserved elements (UCEs), allows a comprehensive exploration of the causes of phylogenetic discordance associated with short internodes at different timescales. We used thousands of UCE and PE-ddRAD markers to produce the first well-resolved phylogeny of shearwaters, a group of medium-sized pelagic seabirds that are among the most phylogenetically controversial and endangered bird groups. We found that phylogenomic conflict was mainly derived from high levels of ILS due to rapid speciation events. We also documented a case of introgression, despite the high philopatry of shearwaters to their breeding sites, which typically limits gene flow. We integrated state-of-the-art concatenated and coalescent-based approaches to expand on previous comparisons of UCE and RAD-Seq datasets for phylogenetics, divergence time estimation and inference of introgression, and we propose a strategy to optimise RAD-Seq data for phylogenetic analyses. Our results highlight the usefulness of combining phylogenomic markers evolving at different rates to understand the causes of phylogenetic discordance at different timescales.

 

[albertonykus]

Danckwerts, D.K., L. Humeau, P. Pinet, C.D. McQuaid, and M. Le Corre (2021)
Extreme philopatry and genetic diversification at unprecedented scales in a seabird
Scientific Reports 11: 6834
doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-86406-9
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-86406-9

Effective conservation requires maintenance of the processes underlying species divergence, as well as understanding species’ responses to episodic disturbances and long-term change. We explored genetic population structure at a previously unrecognized spatial scale in seabirds, focusing on fine-scale isolation between colonies, and identified two distinct genetic clusters of Barau’s Petrels (Pterodroma baraui) on Réunion Island (Indian Ocean) corresponding to the sampled breeding colonies separated by 5 km. This unexpected result was supported by long-term banding and was clearly linked to the species’ extreme philopatric tendencies, emphasizing the importance of philopatry as an intrinsic barrier to gene flow. This implies that loss of a single colony could result in the loss of genetic variation, impairing the species’ ability to adapt to threats in the long term. We anticipate that these findings will have a pivotal influence on seabird research and population management, focusing attention below the species level of taxonomic organization.

 

[mb1848]

If this paper leads to nomenclatural changes I hope any new taxa is called Pt. gill-something-something.
https://www.birdforum.net/threads/monsieur-barau-in-baraus-petrel-…-in-french.279184/ .

 

[Daniel Philippe]

Substitution Rate Variation in a Robust Procellariiform Seabird Phylogeny is not Solely Explained by Body Mass, Flight Efficiency, Population Size or Life History Traits

Substitution rate variation among branches can lead to inaccurate reconstructions of evolutionary relationships and obscure the true phylogeny of affected clades. Body mass is often assumed to have a major influence on substitution rate, though other factors such as population size, life history...

www.biorxiv.org

 

[Jim LeNomenclatoriste]

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jbi.14291

 

[Mysticete]

Interesting...we see a similar pattern in the diversification of dolphins from the subfamily Delphininae, who are also a taxonomic mess.

 

[Jim LeNomenclatoriste]

Interesting...we see a similar pattern in the diversification of dolphins from the subfamily Delphininae, who are also a taxonomic mess.

For the Delphinidae, my taxonomy is the following : restored Prodelphinus and Micropia, isolated two Lagenorhynchus in "Lagenorhynchus ". Tursiops seems, i fact, monophyletic... XD

 

[Mysticete]

For the Delphinidae, my taxonomy is the following : restored Prodelphinus and Micropia, isolated two Lagenorhynchus in "Lagenorhynchus ". Tursiops seems, i fact, monophyletic... XD

I can almost 100% guarantee that Prodelphinus and Micropia will never ever ever come back into usage. Genetic and osteological differences are not all that significant between the different existing genera, and they appear to still be capable of hybridizing.

The most sensible option is either lump everything into Delphinus, or maintain five genera, with the striped "Stenella" lumped with Delphinus, restricting the spotted forms to Stenella, and keeping Tursiops, Sousa, and Lagenodelphis as is. This is the McGowen approach to the complex, and I have a student currently who is testing whether morphology also sorts this re-sorting of species.

 

[Jim LeNomenclatoriste]

I can almost 100% guarantee that Prodelphinus and Micropia will never ever ever come back into usage.

They will be ! They will be !!! « Triggered »

 

[Jim LeNomenclatoriste]

Neotype designation of the Short-tailed Albatross Phoebastria albatrus (Pallas, 1769) (Aves: Procellariiformes: Diomedeidae) | Zootaxa

www.mapress.com

 

[mb1848]

Synonym Diomedea brachiura Temminck is not good for the Torishima population because the Baron mentions both breeding areas.
v.5 (1838) - Nouveau recueil de planches coloriées d'oiseaux : - Biodiversity Heritage Library .
But Diomedea brachyura Gould 1841 mentions a small bill small feet albatross collected by Kittlitz on west coast of north america (much more likely Torishima bird).
The Annals and Magazine of Natural History .
Gould thinks this is a new species.
Diomedea albatrus OD
t.1:fasc.1-10 (1767-1774) - Spicilegia zoologica - Biodiversity Heritage Library .
I do not think brachyura an emandation is available and since dead male europeans are so infrequently honored in bird names I nominate gouldii

 

[albertonykus]

Salvagni, T. and C.J. Carlos (2021)
Phylogenetic relationships of the shearwater taxa Puffinus (sensu lato) and Calonectris (Aves: Procellariiformes: Procellariidae) based on osteological characters
Zootaxa 4963: 243–292
doi: 10.11646/zootaxa.4963.2.2

Shearwaters are among the most diverse groups of Procellariiformes, and the systematics of genera Calonectris, Ardenna and Puffinus (sensu stricto) is particularly complex. Here we present the first morphology-based phylogenetic hypothesis for the group, using 104 osteological characters (23 continuous and 81 discrete) scored for 20 extant species of shearwaters, representing 62.5% of species currently recognized. Both equal and implied weighting were used for phylogenetic analyses, and the final hypothesis presented herein is the strict consensus of the most stable trees produced by the latter. Calonectris was recovered as monophyletic (Relative Bremer Support = 75), while all other members of shearwaters were included in a single, monophyletic grouping: Puffinus (sensu lato) (RBS = 76). The monophyly of Ardenna, as suggested by all molecular-based hypotheses, was not recovered, whereas a monophyletic Puffinus (sensu stricto) is present within the larger clade. The final hypothesis, wherein shearwaters fall into the sister taxa Calonectris and Puffinus (sensu lato), is consistent with earlier classifications based on osteological evidence.

 

[mb1848]

Absolute and Relative Bremer support.
http://aracnologia.macn.gov.ar/st/biblio/Bremer 1988 limits of aminoacids angiosperms.pdf .

 

[albertonykus]

Herman, R.W., B.M. Winger, D.L. Dittmann, and M.G. Harvey (2022)
Fine-scale population genetic structure and barriers to gene flow in a widespread seabird (Ardenna pacifica)
Biological Journal of the Linnean Society (advance online publication)
doi: 10.1093/biolinnean/blac091

Pelagic seabirds are highly mobile, reducing opportunities for population isolation that might promote differentiation and speciation. At the same time, many seabirds are philopatric, and their tendency to return to their natal islands to breed might reduce gene flow sufficiently to permit local adaptation and differentiation. To test the net impact of these competing processes, estimates of differentiation and gene flow based on comprehensive geographical sampling are required. We leveraged diverse source material to achieve comprehensive geographical sampling in a widespread seabird, the Wedge-tailed Shearwater (Ardenna pacifica). Using data from sequence capture and high-throughput sequencing of 2402 loci containing 20 780 single nucleotide polymorphisms, we tested for population differentiation and gene flow among breeding areas. We found little evidence of deep divergences within A. pacifica but were able to resolve fine-scale differentiation across island groups. This differentiation was sufficient to assign individuals sampled away from breeding areas to their likely source populations. Estimated effective migration surfaces revealed reduced migration between the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean, presumably owing to land barriers, and across the equatorial Pacific Ocean, perhaps associated with differences in breeding schedule. Our results reveal that, despite their mobility, pelagic seabirds can exhibit fine-scale population differentiation and reduced gene flow among ocean basins.

 

[albertonykus]

Royle, T.C.A., E.J. Guiry, H. Zhang, L.T. Clark, S.M. Missal, S.A. Rabinow, M. James, and D.Y. Yang (2022)
Documenting the short-tailed albatross (Phoebastria albatrus) clades historically present in British Columbia, Canada, through ancient DNA analysis of archaeological specimens
Ecology and Evolution 12: e9116
doi: 10.1002/ece3.9116

The short-tailed albatross (Phoebastria albatrus) is a threatened seabird whose present-day range encompasses much of the North Pacific. Within this species, there are two genetic clades (Clades 1 and 2) that have distinctive morphologies and foraging ecologies. Due to a global population collapse in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the frequency of these clades among the short-tailed albatross population that historically foraged off British Columbia, Canada, is unclear. To document the species' historical genetic structure in British Columbia, we applied ancient DNA (aDNA) analysis to 51 archaeological short-tailed albatross specimens from the Yuquot site (Borden site number: DjSp-1) that span the past four millennia. We obtained a 141 bp cytochrome b sequence from 43 of the 51 (84.3%) analyzed specimens. Analyses of these sequences indicate 40 of the specimens belong to Clade 1, while 2 belong to Clade 2. We also identified a single specimen with a novel cytochrome b haplotype. Our results indicate that during the past four millennia most of the short-tailed albatrosses foraging near Yuquot belonged to Clade 1, while individuals from other lineages made more limited use of the area. Comparisons with the results of previous aDNA analyses of archaeological albatrosses from Japanese sites suggest the distribution of Clades 1 and 2 differed. While both albatross clades foraged extensively in the Northwest Pacific, Clade 1 albatrosses appear to have foraged along the west coast of Vancouver Island to a greater extent. Due to their differing distributions, these clades may be exposed to different threats.

 

[albertonykus]

Flood, R.L., K. Zufelt, M. Danzenbaker, S. Tanoi, V. Bretagnolle, and H. Shirihai (2022)
The dark-morph Herald Petrel Pterodroma heraldica
Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 142: 354–365
doi: 10.25226/bboc.v142i3.2022.a8

Whether dark-morph Herald Petrel Pterodroma heraldica exists or not has been debated for many years. We summarise previous contributions on the subject, provide indisputable evidence of the dark morph, describe its plumage based on museum specimens and live birds, highlight differences between dark, light and intermediate morphs, and enumerate characters that relatively easily separate the dark morph from ‘all-dark’ Henderson Petrel P. atrata. Dark-morph Herald Petrel is scarce and local. Since the 1970s, records have been restricted to the central South Pacific at Mangareva Island (Gambier Islands) and Ua Pou (Marquesas Islands).