Procellariiformes (4 Viewers)

[Peter Kovalik]

Yvan G. Satgé, Bradford S. Keitt, Chris P. Gaskin, J. Brian Patteson, and Patrick G.R. Jodice. 2022. Temporal and spatial segregations between phenotypes of the Diablotin Black-capped Petrel Pterodroma hasitata during the breeding and non-breeding periods. BioRxiv 2022.06.02.491532.
Temporal and spatial segregations between phenotypes of the Diablotin Black-capped Petrel Pterodroma hasitata during the breeding and non-breeding periods

ABSTRACT
Aim: Despite growing support for ecosystem-based approaches, conservation is mostly implemented at the species level. However, genetic differentiation exists within this taxonomic level, putting genetically distinct populations at risk of local extinction. In seabirds, reproductive isolation is one of the principal drivers of genetic structure. In the Diablotin Black-capped Petrel Pterodroma hasitata, an endangered gadfly petrel endemic to the Caribbean, two phenotypes have been described: a smaller dark form and a heavier light form, which are genetically distinct. We hypothesized that color forms have a similar non-breeding distribution at sea but distinct nesting distributions.

Location: Western North Atlantic and northern Caribbean islands.

Methods: In May 2019, we captured 5 adult Black-capped Petrels of each phenotype at sea and equipped them with satellite transmitters. We used generalized linear mixed models to test the importance of phenotype on geographic distribution. Using kernel density estimations, we located use areas, quantified spatial overlap between forms, and assessed form-specific exposure to marine threats. Finally, we used tracking data to estimate the distribution and timing of nesting.

Results: Petrels were tracked for 11 – 255 d (mean = 102.1 d±74.2). During the non-breeding period, all individuals ranged from 28.4 – 43.0 degrees latitude. Phenotypes had significantly distinct non-breeding distributions. In the western North Atlantic, the dark form was exposed to more marine threats than the light form. We recorded two trips (1 individual of each form) to known breeding areas, with the light form initiating breeding 1.5 months before the dark form.

Main conclusions: Phenotypic differences in the Black-capped Petrel were linked to differences in nesting phenology, non-breeding marine distribution, and at-sea threat exposure. To sustain the species’ representation, redundancy, and resiliency in the light of environmental changes, it is likely that the evolutionary processes that resulted in genetic differentiation will also need to be conserved.

 

[Peter Kovalik]

Lara D. Shepherd, Colin M. Miskelly, Mariana Bulgarella, and Alan J. J. Tennyson (2022) Genomic analyses of fairy and fulmar prions (Procellariidae: Pachyptila spp.) reveals parallel evolution of bill morphology, and multiple species. PLOS ONE 17: e0275102. Published: 27 September 2022
Genomic analyses of fairy and fulmar prions (Procellariidae: Pachyptila spp.) reveals parallel evolution of bill morphology, and multiple species

Abstract
Prions are small petrels that are abundant around the Southern Ocean. Here we use mitochondrial DNA (COI and cytochrome b) and nuclear reduced representation sequencing (ddRADseq) to examine the relationships within and between fairy (Pachyptila turtur) and fulmar (P. crassirostris) prions from across their distributions. We found that neither species was recovered as monophyletic, and that at least three species were represented. Furthermore, we detected several genetic lineages that are also morphologically distinct occurring in near sympatry at two locations (Snares Islands and Chatham Islands). The factors that have driven diversification in the fairy/fulmar prion complex are unclear but may include philopatry, differences in foraging distribution during breeding, differences in non-breeding distributions and breeding habitat characteristics. The observed distribution of genetic variation in the fairy/fulmar prion complex is consistent with population expansion from ice-free Last Glacial Maximum refugia into previously glaciated areas.

 

[pbjosh]

Lara D. Shepherd, Colin M. Miskelly, Mariana Bulgarella, and Alan J. J. Tennyson (2022) Genomic analyses of fairy and fulmar prions (Procellariidae: Pachyptila spp.) reveals parallel evolution of bill morphology, and multiple species. PLOS ONE 17: e0275102. Published: 27 September 2022
Genomic analyses of fairy and fulmar prions (Procellariidae: Pachyptila spp.) reveals parallel evolution of bill morphology, and multiple species

And an article by the authors that gives a layman's overview of it as well:

Then there were eight: Te Papa research reveals yet another species of prion | Te Papa’s Blog

New DNA research by Science Researcher Lara Shepherd and Vertebrate Curators Colin Miskelly and Alan Tennyson has revealed parallel evolution in the small seabirds called prions. This unexpected re…

blog.tepapa.govt.nz

 

[Jacana]

Joan Ferrer Obiol, Jose M. Herranz, Josephine R. Paris, James R. Whiting, Julio Rozas. Marta Riutort, Jacob González-Solís 2022. Species delimitation using genomic data to resolve taxonomic uncertainties in a speciation continuum of pelagic seabirds. In Press. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2022.107671


Highlights
• Puffinus shearwaters have been under intense taxonomic debate for decades.

• Current taxonomies do not provide an accurate delineation of these shearwater species.

• We propose a more accurate taxonomy combining results across several genomic analyses.

• We highlight the need for management of ESUs below the species level.


Abstract
Speciation is a continuous and complex process shaped by the interaction of numerous evolutionary forces. Despite the continuous nature of the speciation process, the implementation of conservation policies relies on the delimitation of species and evolutionary significant units (ESUs). Puffinus shearwaters are globally distributed and threatened pelagic seabirds. Due to remarkable morphological status the group has been under intense taxonomic debate for the past three decades. Here, we use double digest Restriction-Site Associated DNA sequencing (ddRAD-Seq) to genotype species and subspecies of North Atlantic and Mediterranean Puffinus shearwaters across their entire geographical range. We assess the phylogenetic relationships and population structure among and within the group, evaluate species boundaries, and characterise the genomic landscape of divergence. We find that current taxonomies are not supported by genomic data and propose a more accurate taxonomy by integrating genomic information with other sources of evidence. Our results show that several taxon pairs are at different stages of a speciation continuum. Our study emphasises the potential of genomic data to resolve taxonomic uncertainties, which can help to focus management actions on relevant taxa, even if they do not necessarily coincide with the taxonomic rank of species.

 

[Jacana]

Joan Ferrer Obiol, Jose M. Herranz, Josephine R. Paris, James R. Whiting, Julio Rozas. Marta Riutort, Jacob González-Solís 2022. Species delimitation using genomic data to resolve taxonomic uncertainties in a speciation continuum of pelagic seabirds. In Press. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2022.107671


Highlights
• Puffinus shearwaters have been under intense taxonomic debate for decades.

• Current taxonomies do not provide an accurate delineation of these shearwater species.

• We propose a more accurate taxonomy combining results across several genomic analyses.

• We highlight the need for management of ESUs below the species level.


Abstract
Speciation is a continuous and complex process shaped by the interaction of numerous evolutionary forces. Despite the continuous nature of the speciation process, the implementation of conservation policies relies on the delimitation of species and evolutionary significant units (ESUs). Puffinus shearwaters are globally distributed and threatened pelagic seabirds. Due to remarkable morphological status the group has been under intense taxonomic debate for the past three decades. Here, we use double digest Restriction-Site Associated DNA sequencing (ddRAD-Seq) to genotype species and subspecies of North Atlantic and Mediterranean Puffinus shearwaters across their entire geographical range. We assess the phylogenetic relationships and population structure among and within the group, evaluate species boundaries, and characterise the genomic landscape of divergence. We find that current taxonomies are not supported by genomic data and propose a more accurate taxonomy by integrating genomic information with other sources of evidence. Our results show that several taxon pairs are at different stages of a speciation continuum. Our study emphasises the potential of genomic data to resolve taxonomic uncertainties, which can help to focus management actions on relevant taxa, even if they do not necessarily coincide with the taxonomic rank of species.

Their main conclusions are that Balearic and Yelkouan Shearwaters should be lumped as "Mediterranean Shearwater"

 

[Jacana]

Silva, M.C., Catry, P., Bried, J. et al. Contrasting patterns of population structure of Bulwer’s petrel (Bulweria bulwerii) between oceans revealed by statistical phylogeography. Sci Rep 13, 1939 (2023). Contrasting patterns of population structure of Bulwer’s petrel (Bulweria bulwerii) between oceans revealed by statistical phylogeography - Scientific Reports

The patterns of population divergence of mid-latitude marine birds are impacted by only a few biogeographic barriers to dispersal and the effect of intrinsic factors, such as fidelity to natal colonies or wintering grounds, may become more conspicuous. Here we describe, for the first time, the phylogeographic patterns and historical demography of Bulwer’s petrel Bulweria bulwerii and provide new insights regarding the drivers of species diversification in the marine environment. We sampled Bulwer’s petrels from the main breeding colonies and used a statistical phylogeography approach based on surveying nuclear and mitochondrial loci (~ 9100 bp) to study its mechanisms of global diversification. We uncovered three highly differentiated groups including the Western Pacific, the Central Pacific and the Atlantic. The older divergence occurred within the Pacific Ocean, ca. 850,000 ya, and since then the W Pacific group has been evolving in isolation. Conversely, divergence between the Central Pacific and Atlantic populations occurred within the last 200,000 years. While the Isthmus of Panama is important in restricting gene flow between oceans in Bulwer’s petrels, the deepest phylogeographic break is within the Pacific Ocean, where oceanographic barriers are key in driving and maintaining the remarkable structure found in this highly mobile seabird. This is in contrast with the Atlantic, where no structure was detected. Further data will provide insights regarding the extent of lineage divergence of Bulwer’s petrels in the Western Pacific.

 

[albertonykus]

Pacha, A.S., A. Pande, S. Arya, S. Saini, K. Sivakumar, and S.Mondol (2023)
New insights on the phylogeny and genetic status of a highly vagile seabird from east Antarctica
Polar Science (advance online publication)
doi: 10.1016/j.polar.2023.100972

Wilson's storm-petrel (Oceanites oceanicus, family Oceanitidae, order Procellariiformes) breeds in rock cavities along the ice-free coastline of Antarctica, a habitat susceptible to environmental change and human disturbance. Despite extensive presence, high numbers and wide-ranging movement, there are taxonomic ambiguities surrounding species' phylogenetic positioning and data gaps for most parts of its range. In this study, we provide support to the phylogenetic status of family Oceanitidae through new genetic datasets and modern analytical approaches. We generated mitochondrial cytochrome b gene sequences from samples collected from east Antarctica's ice-free regions. Reconstructed trees obtained using Bayesian and maximum likelihood models show Oceanitidae as a monophyletic group where Hydrobatidae (northern storm-petrels) appeared as a basal group to the order Procellariiformes. Phylogeographic network analysis resulted in seven distinct haplotypes with strong genetic differentiation (FST > 0.99) between east Antarctic and sub-Antarctic populations. Our study provides one of the first genetic datasets on Wilson's storm-petrel populations in east Antarctica. It serves as a baseline to undertake rigorous investigations into species' population structure, genetic connectivity and demographic responses to human-mediated changes in the austral environment.

 

[Jim LeNomenclatoriste]

Pacha, A.S., A. Pande, S. Arya, S. Saini, K. Sivakumar, and S.Mondol (2023)
New insights on the phylogeny and genetic status of a highly vagile seabird from east Antarctica
Polar Science (advance online publication)
doi: 10.1016/j.polar.2023.100972

Wilson's storm-petrel (Oceanites oceanicus, family Oceanitidae, order Procellariiformes) breeds in rock cavities along the ice-free coastline of Antarctica, a habitat susceptible to environmental change and human disturbance. Despite extensive presence, high numbers and wide-ranging movement, there are taxonomic ambiguities surrounding species' phylogenetic positioning and data gaps for most parts of its range. In this study, we provide support to the phylogenetic status of family Oceanitidae through new genetic datasets and modern analytical approaches. We generated mitochondrial cytochrome b gene sequences from samples collected from east Antarctica's ice-free regions. Reconstructed trees obtained using Bayesian and maximum likelihood models show Oceanitidae as a monophyletic group where Hydrobatidae (northern storm-petrels) appeared as a basal group to the order Procellariiformes. Phylogeographic network analysis resulted in seven distinct haplotypes with strong genetic differentiation (FST > 0.99) between east Antarctic and sub-Antarctic populations. Our study provides one of the first genetic datasets on Wilson's storm-petrel populations in east Antarctica. It serves as a baseline to undertake rigorous investigations into species' population structure, genetic connectivity and demographic responses to human-mediated changes in the austral environment.

Interesting at first sight!

 

[albertonykus]

Shepherd, L.D., A.J.D. Tennyson, and C.M. Miskelly (2024)
Mitochondrial DNA structuring of Antarctic prions (Pachyptila desolata, Procellariidae)
Tuhinga 35: 1–9
doi: 10.3897/tuhinga.35.115090

Prions (Pachyptila) are small seabirds with a Southern Hemisphere breeding distribution. Antarctic prion (Pachyptila desolata) and Salvin’s prion (P. salvini) are two species that are regularly recorded in New Zealand as beach-wrecks but they are difficult to distinguish morphologically. Salvin’s prion is restricted to breeding on the Prince Edward Islands and Crozet Islands in the Indian Ocean but Antarctic prions have a circumpolar breeding distribution on numerous sub-Antarctic and Antarctic islands in the Southern, South Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Our aim was to examine the level of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) structuring within Antarctic prion and Salvin’s prion colonies, to test whether this technique can determine the provenance of beach-cast birds. The Auckland Islands Antarctic prion population exhibited distinct mtDNA haplotypes from all other populations, supporting the suggestion that these islands may have been an ice-free refugium during the Last Glacial Maximum. All other sampled breeding populations shared haplotypes, limiting the use of these sequences for determining the provenance of beach-cast birds. None of our museum specimens of Salvin’s prion collected from breeding colonies produced DNA sequences. This result indicates that the method by which these specimens, which were collected in the 1960s and 70s, were preserved, or subsequent treatments, has resulted in the loss of their DNA.

 

[albertonykus]

Sangster, G., M.S. Robb, W.A. Mackin, and M. Bolton (2024)
Vocalizations and species limits in the North Atlantic clade of small shearwaters (Procellariiformes: Puffinus)
Biological Journal of the Linnean Society (advance online publication)
doi: 10.1093/biolinnean/blae008

Species limits in the North Atlantic clade of small shearwaters (Puffinus lherminieri lherminieri, P. l. baroli, and P. l. boydi) have been controversial. In this study, the aerial calls of P. l. boydi are described in detail and compared with those of P. l. baroli and P. l. lherminieri. Multivariate methods were used to test for differences in seven characteristics of aerial calls among the three taxonomic groups, in a sample of 135 individuals. There were differences between males and females in five of the seven call elements studied and differences in all seven call elements among the three taxonomic groups. Discriminant function analysis provided a high degree of discrimination, with 91%–100% of the calls being assigned to the correct taxon. The overall level of acoustic differentiation between P. l. baroli and P. l. boydi was similar to that between P. l. baroli and P. l. lherminieri and twice as high as that of P. l. boydi and P. l. lherminieri. These acoustic data, in combination with previously reported patterns of morphometric and molecular divergence, support the recognition of three North Atlantic species: P. lherminieri, P. baroli, and P. boydi. This study underscores that patterns of acoustic variation provide a useful source of information for taxonomic studies of procellariiform seabirds.