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Rallidae (1 Viewer)

Nutcracker said:
Yep - why on earth 8? Couldn't they be satisfied with one for a type specimen, and feather samples for DNA for the rest? Gross overkill.
Click to expand...

A sample size of one isn't a valid basis for any subsequent statistical analysis or argument, and certainly not for any proposal to establish any conservation policy. The bad guys wouldn't need to shell out for a good lawyer to win a case against conservation of any new taxon on that basis. Even eight might not be sufficient, but at least they could indicate that the first specimen wasn't atypical in any way...

If you're going to build a conservation case, you need data and evidence. A single specimen (or DNA from blood samples) doesn't represent either.

Just playing Devil's advocate here - I am no supporter of a blanket approach on specimen collection!
MJB
 
Rallus longirostris berryorum

njlarsen said:
With thanks to Kimball Garrett on NEOORN

Maley, J. M., J. E. McCormack, W. L. E. E. Tsai, E. M. Schwab, J. van Dort, R. C. Juárez, and M. D. Carling. 2016. Fonseca Mangrove Rail: A New Subspecies from Honduras. Western Birds 47:262-273; doi 10.21199/WB47.4.1

Abstract: Large rails were discovered in the mangroves along the Pacific coast of Honduras in 2010, and confirmed as local breeders in 2012. Their taxonomic affinity was unclear because the region is far from yet between the ranges of several other species in the Clapper Rail complex. So we collected eight specimens in July 2013, recorded their vocalizations, video-recorded a duetting pair, and documented a nest. By sequencing a portion of their mitochondrial DNA we were able to place them unambiguously within the Mangrove Rail (Rallus longirostris). The specimens differ in plumage, being the only Mangrove Rails with a dusky breast band and light gray edging to their back feathers. Males, at least, are significantly larger than other male Mangrove Rails. We found one base pair among 650 of mtDNA in which the Honduras specimens differ from specimens from Peru and Venezuela. Therefore, we describe this population as a new subspecies, the Fonseca Mangrove Rail (R. l. berryorum). This discovery extends the Mangrove Rail’s known range ~1500 km northwest along the Pacific coast.

Niels
Click to expand...

pdf here
 
Gong, J., Zhao, R., Huang, Q. et al. Two mitogenomes in Gruiformes (Amaurornis akool/A. phoenicurus) and the phylogenetic placement of Rallidae. Genes Genom (2017). doi:10.1007/s13258-017-0562-3

abstract

Rallidae, with 34 genera including 142 species, is the largest family in the Gruiformes, the phylogenetic placement of this family was still in debate. The complete mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes), with many advantageous characters, have become popular markers in phylogenetic analyses. We sequenced the mitogenomes of brown crake (Amaurornis akool) and white-breasted waterhen (Amaurornis phoenicurus), analyzed the genomic characters of mitogenomes in Rallidae, and explored the phylogenetic relationships between Rallidae and other four families in Gruiformes based on mitogenome sequences of 32 species with Bayesian method. The mitogenome of A. akool/A. phoenicurus was 16,950/17,213 bp in length, and contained 37 genes typical to avian mitogenomes and one control region, respectively. The genomic characters of mitogenomes in Rallidae were similar. The phylogenetic results indicated that, among five families, Rallidae had closest relationship with Heliornithidae, which formed a sister taxa to Gruidae, while Rhynochetidae located in the basal lineage. Within Rallidae, Rallina was ancestral clade. Gallirallus & Rallus and Aramides were closely related, Gallicrex & Amaurornis and Fulica & Gallinula had close relationships, and these two taxa formed a sister clade to Porphyrio & Coturnicops. Our phylogenetic analyses provided solid evidence for the phylogenetic placement of Rallidae and the evolutionary relationships among different genus within this family. In addition, the mitogenome data presented here provide useful information for further molecular systematic investigations on Gruiformes as well as conservation biology research of these species.
 
Peng Chen, Yuqing Han, Chaoying Zhu, Bin Gao, Luzhang Ruan. Complete mitochondrial genome of Porzana fusca and Porzana pusilla and phylogenetic relationship of 16 Rallidae species. Genetica (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10709-017-9982-x

Abstract:

The complete mitochondrial genome sequences of Porzana fusca and Porzana pusilla were determined. The two avian species share a high degree of homology in terms of mitochondrial genome organization and gene arrangement. Their corresponding mitochondrial genomes are 16,935 and 16,978 bp and consist of 37 genes and a control region. Their PCGs were both 11,365 bp long and have similar structure. Their tRNA gene sequences could be folded into canonical cloverleaf secondary structure, except for tRNASer (AGY), which lost its “DHU” arm. Based on the concatenated nucleotide sequences of the complete mitochondrial DNA genes of 16 Rallidae species, reconstruction of phylogenetic trees and analysis of the molecular clock of P. fusca and P. pusilla indicated that these species from a sister group, which in turn are sister group to Rallina eurizonoides. The genus Gallirallus is a sister group to genus Lewinia, and these groups in turn are sister groups to genus Porphyrio. Moreover, molecular clock analyses suggested that the basal divergence of Rallidae could be traced back to 40.47 (41.46‒39.45) million years ago (Mya), and the divergence of Porzana occurred approximately 5.80 (15.16‒0.79) Mya.
 
Something (obviously) wrong with the data, here.
(At least the A. akool sequence -- this looks like a composite of A. phoenicurus and Gallinula chloropus DNA.)
 
Garcia–R JC, Gonzalez‐Orozco CE, Trewick SA. [in press.] Contrasting patterns of diversification in a bird family (Aves: Gruiformes: Rallidae) are revealed by analysis of geospatial distribution of species and phylogenetic diversity. Ecography.
[abstract & supp.info.]

Abstract
Geospatial patterns in the distribution of regional biodiversity reflect the composite processes that underpin evolution: speciation, dispersal and extinction. The spatial distribution and phylogeny of a globally widespread and species rich bird family (Rallidae) were used to help assess the role of large‐scale biogeographical processes in diversity and diversification. Here, we examine how different geostatistical diversity metrics enhance our understanding of species distribution by linking occurrence records of rail species to corresponding species level phylogeny. Tropical regions and temperate zones contained a large proportion of rail species richness and phylogenetic diversity whilst small islands in Australian, Oceanian and Oriental regions held the highest weighted and phylogenetic endemism. Our results suggest that habitat connectivity and dispersal were important ecological features in rail evolution and distribution. Spatial isolation was a significant driver of diversification where islands in Oceania were centres of neo‐endemism with recent multiple and independent speciation events and could be considered as nurseries of biodiversity. Palaeo‐endemism was mostly associated with older stable regions, so despite extensive long distance range shifting these areas retain their own ancient and distinct character. Madagascar was the major area of palaeo‐endemism associated with the oldest rail lineages and could be considered a museum of rail diversity. This implies a mixture of processes determine the current distribution and diversity of rail clades with some areas dominated by recent in situ speciation while others harbour old diversity with ecological traits that have stood the test of time.
 
LeNomenclatoriste said:
However, if you know a software able to read a .nex format, I'll take it..
Click to expand...
Assuming what you want to do is to visualize a tree (trees are not the only thing that can be in a .nex file), FigTree is free and, in my experience, reasonably easy to use.
(At least on my OS... which won't be the same as yours because, if it was, you wouldn't have problems with .zip files. ;))
http://tree.bio.ed.ac.uk/software/figtree/
 
Martin Stervander, Martim Melo, Bengt Hansson. The origin of the world’s smallest flightless bird, the Inaccessible Island Rail Atlantisia rogersi (Aves: Rallidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. Available online 12 October 2018, In Press, Accepted Manuscript

Abstract
Rails (Aves: Rallidae) are renowned for their extreme dispersal capability, which has given rise to numerous island lineages. Many insular species lost the ability to fly as a response to release from predator pressure—a feature causing rapid extinction when humans subsequently introduced mammals. The world’s smallest extant flightless bird, the Inaccessible Island Rail Atlantisia rogersi, is endemic to Inaccessible Island, Tristan da Cunha archipelago, in the central South Atlantic Ocean. It is placed in a monotypic genus, but its taxonomic affinity, as well as geographic origin, are disputed. Contrary to its suggested Old World origin, we demonstrate that the Inaccessible Island Rail is nested within the mainly South American ‘Laterallus clade’ and that it colonized ≥ 3 million-year-old Inaccessible Island from South America c. 1.5 million years ago. The taxonomy of rails has traditionally been based on morphology, and convergent evolution has caused many cases of misclassification. We suggest a re-classification within the ‘Laterallus clade’ and call for extended coverage of taxon sampling for DNA sequencing.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1055790318301763
 
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Hawaiian waterbirds: The Hawaiian Coot and Hawaiian Gallinule

Sarah A. Sonsthagen, Robert E. Wilson, and Jared G. Underwood (2018) Interisland genetic structure of two endangered Hawaiian waterbirds: The Hawaiian Coot and Hawaiian Gallinule. The Condor: November 2018, Vol. 120, No. 4, pp. 863-873.

Abstract:

Most of Hawaii's endemic avifauna are species of conservation concern. Some of Hawaii's endangered waterbirds, however, have increased in number as a result of intensive management of wetlands. To inform these conservation efforts, we examined interisland genetic structure and gene flow within 2 Hawaiian endemic waterbirds, the Hawaiian Coot (Fulica alai) and the Hawaiian subspecies of the Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata sandvicensis), using microsatellite and mitochondrial loci. Hawaiian Coots and Hawaiian Gallinules occupy coastal wetlands and exhibit similar life history characteristics and generation times, although they may differ in dispersal propensity. Mark–resight data for Hawaiian Coot indicate interisland movements, whereas Hawaiian Gallinules are sedentary. Genetic diversity is partitioned across the landscape differently for Hawaiian Coots and Hawaiian Gallinules; patterns of variation are likely influenced by behavioral and ecological mechanisms. Hawaiian Coots exhibit low levels of structure at microsatellite loci (FST = 0.029) and high levels of gene flow among islands. Conversely, Hawaiian Gallinules are highly structured across marker types (microsatellite FST = 0.205, mtDNA control region FST = 0.370, mtDNA ND2 FST = 0.087), with restricted recent gene flow. Patterns of gene flow have changed after the population declines in the early to mid-1900s. Gene flow estimates indicate historical dispersal from Kauai to Oahu in both species, while recent estimates show individual Hawaiian Coots dispersing from Oahu and restricted gene flow between islands for the Hawaiian Gallinule. Changes in gene flow through time suggest that patterns of dispersal may be an artifact of the availability of habitat, which may be indirectly associated with the synergistic influences of population density and wetland quality. Despite recent population size increases for both species, continued threats to Hawaiian waterbirds (i.e. nonnative mammalian predators and invasive plants, avian disease, altered hydrology, and saltwater inundation of freshwater wetlands) will likely require continued active management to maintain viable populations.
 
Peter Kovalik said:
Also in this thread, see #1
Click to expand...
Without any answer to the question I had been asking there...

In 1856, Charles Lucien Bonaparte included two species in his new genus Canirallus, Canirallus oculeus ("Temminck" = Hartlaub 1855) and Canirallus kioloides (Pucheran 1845), without fixing one of them as the type. Subsequently, Witmer Stone designated kioloides (which he misspelled "kilioides", but this does not affect the validity of the designation) as the type in a work with a stated date of "June 12, 1894". R Bowdler Sharpe designated oculeus as the type in a book with a date just stated as "1894".
When he described Mentocrex in 1933, James Lee Peters accepted Sharpe's type designation. But he did not cite Stone; nor did he indicate that he was aware of his type designation.
Can Sharpe's work be "demonstrated to be in existence as a published work" (to use the words of Art. 21 of the Code) before Stone's ? If not, "June 12, 1894" being by default before "1894" in nomenclature, Canirallus might have to stay with kioloides.
 
Can Sharpe's work be "demonstrated to be in existence as a published work" (to use the words of Art. 21 of the Code) before Stone's ?
Click to expand...
Yes.
Vol. 22 had a preface and introduction dated November 1893. But was accessioned in the British Museum (Natural History) library on December 8, 1893.
https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/34477#page/624/mode/1up .
Vol. 23 has a preface and introduction dated February 1894. But it was accessed into the British Museum NH library June 9, 1894.
https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/34470#page/392/mode/1up .
Vol 22 had an addenda section at the end but Vol 23 has many more additions which may be why it took a few more months after preface than V. 22?
In a universe where time moves in one direction June 9 1894 is prior to June 12 1894.
 
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Mark,
I see a date stamp ("8 DEC 1893") in your link to Vol 22, but I see nothing in Vol 23...?
("1944-45 1/1 6/9" is pencilled on the last page of most BHL volumes, from [first] to [last]. I'm not sure what it means, but it cannot be a date of accession for Vol. 23.)
 

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