New paper indicating a revision to the treatment of Melanerpes carolinus clade (1 Viewer)

[Gavin Bieber]

Another new paper in Condor.

GarcEDa-Trejo, Erick A., Alejandro Espinosa de los Monteros, Ma. del Coro
Arizmendi, and Adolfo G. Navarro-SigFCenza 2009. Molecular systematics of the Red-Bellied and Golden-Fronted Woodpeckers. Condor, 111: 442-452.


Abstract: The Red-bellied Woodpecker species group (*Melanerpes*
*carolinus*and relatives) is composed of five morphologically similar
species whose limits have been unclear. The relationship of the Golden-fronted Woodpecker (*M*. *aurifrons*) to the remainder of the group is particularly uncertain. We used mitochondrial DNA sequences to examine the phylogeny of this group and its close relatives. We sequenced 872 bp, including fragments of the genes for ND2, ND3, COIII, and tRNAmet, of 11 species of *Melanerpes*. We constructed trees from combined sequences by using the maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference approaches. We found that *M*. *aurifrons* is not monophyletic but rather consists of two clades, one comprising tropical populations (*M. santacruzi*), the other, consisting of northern populations, being sister to *M*. *carolinus*. The Caribbean species, *M. superciliaris*, is sister to the *carolinus-aurifrons* clade. The group as a whole appears to have diversified into multiple lineages in response to several episodes of vicariance, perhaps associated with glacial-interglacial cycles. As a result of these findings, major taxonomic changes in the group are needed.

 

[Richard Klim]

Also discussed here:
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=148975

Richard

 

[Peter Kovalik]

Does anyone have the full pdf? Which subspecies of M. aurifrons belong to M. santacruzi clade?

 

[Richard Klim]

Which subspecies of M. aurifrons belong to M. santacruzi clade?

García-Trejo et al 2009 suggests splitting M aurifrons (monotypic), with M santacruzi including all other subspecies.

Richard

 

[Daniel Philippe]

Which subspecies of M. aurifrons belong to M. santacruzi clade?

sensu Dickinson (2003): grateloupensis (incl. veraecrucis), dubius, leei, turneffensis, polygrammus, santacruzi, hughlandi, pauper, insulanus, canescens.

ed.: Richard is definitely the fastest ...

 

[Peter Kovalik]

Richard, Daniel very thanks

 

[Richard Klim]

The latest issue of ABA's Birding includes a short news item reporting the conclusions of García-Trejo et al 2009:

• Hess 2010. News and Notes: Golden-fronted Woodpecker. Birding 42(4): 31.
  http://www.aba.org/birding/v42n4p28.pdf

Richard

 

[mb1848]

I really like Birding and I am sad that the ABA is going under. Dang disruptive internets. The Birding article mentions that Howell & Webb use Centurus for the genus of the Golden-fronted Woodpeckers.
“Centurus and Asyndesmus are merged in the genus Melanerpes (see Mayr and Short op. cit.: 56-57; Peters 1948, Checklist of Birds of the World, vol. 6; Meyer de Schauensee 1966• Species of birds of South America: 223-224. Centurus carolinus becomes Melanerpes carolinus (with subspecies zebra, carolinus, perplexus, and harpaceus). Centurus aurifrons becomes Melanerpes aurifrons (with subspecies incanescens and aurifrons). Centurus uropygialis becomes Melanerpes uropygiaIis (with subspecies
uropygialis, albescens, cardonensis, and brewsteri). Asyndesmus lewis becomes Melanerpes lewis.”
THIRTY-THIRD SUPPLEMENT TO THE AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION CHECK-LIST OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. (1976)

This newish article weakly questions this lump.
http://www.springerlink.com/content/b6128h82w2t2625k .

Diversity within Melanerpes may imply a high degree of plasticity or that species have been incorrectly placed in a polyphyletic group. Woodpeckers currently in the genus Melanerpes share few uniting characters and historically have been placed in as many as eight different genera. Additional life history, morphological, and genetic studies of the group, especially of Caribbean and Neotropical species, is warranted.

 

[Richard Klim]

Melanerpes

The Birding article mentions that Howell & Webb use Centurus for the genus of the Golden-fronted Woodpeckers.

Winkler & Christie 2002 (HBW7) comments:

• "The largest genus in this tribe [Melanerpini] is Melanerpes, containing 22 species. These were formerly split into two major groups, the "ladder-backed" Centurus and the boldly patterned Melanerpes. Between these extremes, however, many intermediate patterns occur, and the group is in all respects rather uniform, so that distinguishing several genera would not seem to be justified. Splitting would also blur the distinctiveness of the other two genera [Sphyrapicus & Xiphidiopicus]."

Richard

 

[Mysticete]

also of interest is a discussion of hybrid zones, and the fact that there appears to be no selection at all against hybrids of Red-shafted and Yellow-shafted flickers

 

[njlarsen]

Additional life history, morphological, and genetic studies of the group, especially of Caribbean and Neotropical species, is warranted.

The opus page for Guadeloupe Woodpecker has a reference to a monograph for that species, which contains some references to other Caribbean species. This might be one of the more completely studied species of woodpeckers in the world!

Niels

 

[Peter Kovalik]

Erick Alejandro García Trejo, 2010. Sistemática de los carpinteros del complejo Melanerpes carolinus (Aves: Picidae). Tesis de Doctorado, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México.
PDF

 

[Peter Kovalik]

Melanerpes carolinus

George F. Barrowclough, Jeff G. Groth, Elizabeth K. Bramlett, Jonas E. Lai and William M. Mauck. Phylogeography and geographic variation in the Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus): characterization of mtDNA and plumage hybrid zones. The Wilson Journal of Ornithology 130(3):671-683. 2018.

Abstract:

We used sequences of the mitochondrial ND2 gene, the nuclear TGFB-2 intron-5, and differences in plumage pattern to assay geographic variation in the Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus). Ten population samples from throughout its range indicated that ∼23% of the mitochondrial genetic variation was distributed among populations, largely due to the occurrence of a clade of haplotypes restricted to the Florida peninsula with a local frequency of 82%. In a hierarchical analysis, 37% of the mtDNA genetic variance was distributed between the Florida peninsula and elsewhere. A strong signal of population growth was detected in the non-peninsular portion of the range. Otherwise, geographic variation in haplotype frequencies was minor, with no evidence of isolation-by-distance. Nuclear intron data showed little variation among populations (Fst = 0.007). These results suggest recent secondary contact of 2 differentiated taxa following expansion from allopatric Pleistocene refugia. We modeled the transition in haplotype frequencies along the Florida peninsula as a zone of neutral introgression; the estimated width of that zone was 435 km, and its center was near present day Ocala. Variation in plumage pattern along the peninsula previously had been used to describe a subspecific taxon, M. c. perplexus. We used variation in the forehead pattern of adult males from along the east coast of the United States to model this phenotypic transition; the zone had an estimated width of >2,500 km and an approximate center in the Florida Keys. Taken together, the geographic patterns in mtDNA and plumage variation suggest the populations of Red-bellied Woodpeckers on the Florida peninsula differentiated from those elsewhere during isolation; they are now in secondary contact in a well-known suture zone and represent 2 phylogenetic species connected by wide molecular and morphological zones of introgression.

 

[ntbirdman]

I sincerely hope no taxonomic bodies recognize M. perplexus as a species as recommended by this paper. I'm not even sure I'm convinced it is a subspecies.

The "morphological zone of introgression" is over 2000km or the majority of the species' range. The Florida perplexus phenotype (a tan forehead) is not restricted to Florida, but occurs in low frequency at least as far away as NY, aka the majority of the species' range. The nominate phenotype (a red forehead) occurs throughout the range of perplexus in Florida. The tan forehead isn't even the majority phenotype in some S Florida populations!

The main FL mitochondrial haplotype differs from the widespread nominate haplotype by a single nucleotide substitution, and they call this diagnosable as a separate species. Although the FL haplotype is restricted to Florida, the nominate haplotype is still found throughout the entire range of perplexus, all the way to the Key Largo, so I fail to see how this is diagnostic.

The authors freely admit no one would consider this a Biological Species, but name it a Phylogenetic Species anyway, on the basis of this 'evidence'. This doesn't look like a species by any definition to me. It looks like some subtle clinal variation in allele frequencies.

 

[Kirk Roth]

I sincerely hope no taxonomic bodies recognize M. perplexus as a species as recommended by this paper. I'm not even sure I'm convinced it is a subspecies.

The "morphological zone of introgression" is over 2000km or the majority of the species' range. The Florida perplexus phenotype (a tan forehead) is not restricted to Florida, but occurs in low frequency at least as far away as NY, aka the majority of the species' range. The nominate phenotype (a red forehead) occurs throughout the range of perplexus in Florida. The tan forehead isn't even the majority phenotype in some S Florida populations!

The main FL mitochondrial haplotype differs from the widespread nominate haplotype by a single nucleotide substitution, and they call this diagnosable as a separate species. Although the FL haplotype is restricted to Florida, the nominate haplotype is still found throughout the entire range of perplexus, all the way to the Key Largo, so I fail to see how this is diagnostic.

The authors freely admit no one would consider this a Biological Species, but name it a Phylogenetic Species anyway, on the basis of this 'evidence'. This doesn't look like a species by any definition to me. It looks like some subtle clinal variation in allele frequencies.

Of course, there is more to diagnosing perplexus than a tan forehead - for example rump and tail pattern, eye color, size, and details of the white and red plumage.

Also, I haven't read the Wilson Bulletin article, but do they claim that the taxa differ in only one nucleotide substitution or just that they only tested/diagnosed based on one? The abstract seems like the latter, though not exactly clear to me.

While there is little to "worry" about considering that no major ornithological taxonomic authorities widely adopt the Phylogenetic Species Concept (with certain exceptions noted as I watch Fox Sparrows at the feeder....), most PSC scholars nor subspecies definitions have no problem with introgression. Remember that a PSC species is basically only a diagnosable lineage - and if you add the full suite of traits instead of just a single plumage character I think it fits just as well as any other avian PSC species might.

Which is why the BSC rules over so much of avian taxonomy!