Pseudocolopteryx spp (Doraditos) (1 Viewer)

E.A. Jordan, J. Tello & J.I. Areta. Molecular phylogenetics of Doraditos (Aves: Pseudocolopteryx): plumage evolution, cryptic species and moving targets of sexual selection. Congreso; XI Neotropical Ornithological Congress; 2019.

Abstract:

Avian plumage evolves under different ?often antagonistic? selective pressures due to a complex interplay between sexual demands and environmental challenges. Elucidating how evolutionary forces have molded plumage and other sexual signals is key to understand phenotypic evolution in birds. Here we built the first species-level phylogenetic analysis of Pseudocolopteryx using mitochondrial (ND2, COI) and nuclear (MYO, ODC) genes to explore the evolutionary processes that fostered intra- and interspecific phenotypic differences. Analyses recovered the monophyly of Pseudocolopteryx (P. sclateri (P. acutipennis (P. dinelliana (P. citreola-P. flaviventris)))), which was sister to Serpophaga nigricans. Ancestral state reconstruction supported a highly dichromatic ancestor of Pseudocolopteryx followed by a general reduction of plumage dichromatism, while bill coloration was dichromatic in all five species. Dichromatism was inversely related to acoustic complexity, possibly due to an evolutionary tradeoff between two competing signal modalities (i.e. visual and auditory), where sexual selection pressures that promoted chromatic conspicuousness in males changed their main target from plumage to acoustic characters during the evolution of Pseudocolopteryx. Modified primary feathers were ancestral in males, and were present in species that perform aerial displays with putative mechanical sounds (P. sclateri, P. acutipennis, P. dinelliana), but absent in those that do not (P. citreola, P. flaviventris). The two cryptic species (P. citreola and P. flaviventris) are sibling species that diverged ca. 60kYA, showing that minimal genetic changes can lead to dramatic vocal differences without obvious morphological changes, and add evidence showing that vocal signals may frequently be more important than visual ones in species recognition systems in the Tyrannidae.

link: XI Neotropical Ornithological Conference; July 28 - August 1, 2019

Jordan E.A., Tello J.G., Benítez Saldívar M.J. & Areta J.I., in press. Molecular phylogenetics of Doraditos (Aves, Pseudocolopteryx):
Evolution of cryptic species, vocal and mechanical sounds. Zool. Scripta

Abstract​

While bird vocalizations (produced by the syrinx) have been the focus of countless studies, mechanical sounds (produced by external body structures) have received much less attention. In particular, the evolutionary interplay between these two modes of acoustic communication remains largely unstudied. Here, we present the first species‐level molecular phylogeny of the doraditos (Pseudocolopteryx), reconstruct the evolutionary history of acoustic vocal and non‐vocal characters, elucidate their relationship to feather modifications and aerial displays, and explore the influence of acoustics in the speciation of cryptic species. Our well‐resolved phylogeny using four genes (ND2, COI, MB and ODC), recovered the monophyly of Pseudocolopteryx, resolving the relationships among its five species: ((((P. sclateri) P. acutipennis) P. dinelliana) P. citreola, P. flaviventris). Repetition and translocation of acoustic elements were commonplace in the evolution of Pseudocolopteryx. Songs were composed of introductory syllables and a final flourish. Bill‐snapping sounds of P. sclateri were functionally homologous to introductory vocal syllables of the other species. The song of P. dinelliana evolved to high levels of complexity and repetition and is the syntactically most complex song in Pseudocolopteryx (and perhaps in the Tyrannidae). Aerial displays, mechanical wing sounds and modifications of primary feathers coevolved in three species: P. sclateri, P. acutipennis and P. dinelliana. Wing sounds documented for P. acutipennis and P. dinelliana differed markedly, and their production mechanisms might differ. The two cryptic and sibling species P. flaviventris and P. citreola diverged ∽60,000 Ya were not reciprocally monophyletic and are a case of extremely rapid evolutionary acoustic differentiation with morphological stasis.