aegithalos
Well-known member
Readers of this forum might be interested in this recently published article:
Phylogeographic patterns in widespread corvid birds
Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, vol 45, Pages 840-862
E. Haring, A. Gamauf and A. Kryukov (Dec 2007)
which treats principally Corvus corone (in the wide sense) among other species.
Abstract begins:
"Intraspecific genetic diversity and phylogeography of Corvus corone was investigated using the mitochondrial (mt) control region as a molecular marker. A split into two distinct mt lineages was observed. One represents individuals from a wide geographic range spanning from England to the Russian Far East (Kamchatka), while the other one was found in the Primorye and Khabarovsk regions (southern parts of Russian Far East) as well as Japan. ..."
and in the discussion:
"With respect to taxonomy the present data provide a
rather clear picture: The present data do not support
the recent proposal to treat the European carrion crow
and hooded crow as distinct species (C. corone, C. cornix;
Parkin et al., 2003). One might ask whether the
two mt clades represent two distinct species. In this case
the western species would comprise black as well as
black–grey forms, while the eastern one would only represent
the most eastern black populations. However, such
a split is not justified without corroboration by morphological,
behavioural and other data (e.g., vocalization)
and detailed analysis of the contact zone between the
two haplogroups."
So, back to square 1?
Cheers,
Keith
Phylogeographic patterns in widespread corvid birds
Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, vol 45, Pages 840-862
E. Haring, A. Gamauf and A. Kryukov (Dec 2007)
which treats principally Corvus corone (in the wide sense) among other species.
Abstract begins:
"Intraspecific genetic diversity and phylogeography of Corvus corone was investigated using the mitochondrial (mt) control region as a molecular marker. A split into two distinct mt lineages was observed. One represents individuals from a wide geographic range spanning from England to the Russian Far East (Kamchatka), while the other one was found in the Primorye and Khabarovsk regions (southern parts of Russian Far East) as well as Japan. ..."
and in the discussion:
"With respect to taxonomy the present data provide a
rather clear picture: The present data do not support
the recent proposal to treat the European carrion crow
and hooded crow as distinct species (C. corone, C. cornix;
Parkin et al., 2003). One might ask whether the
two mt clades represent two distinct species. In this case
the western species would comprise black as well as
black–grey forms, while the eastern one would only represent
the most eastern black populations. However, such
a split is not justified without corroboration by morphological,
behavioural and other data (e.g., vocalization)
and detailed analysis of the contact zone between the
two haplogroups."
So, back to square 1?
Cheers,
Keith