A lost world in Wallacea: Description of a montane archipelagic avifauna

Rheindt, Frank E.; Prawiradilaga, Dewi M.; Ashari, Hidayat; Suparno,; Gwee, Chyi Yin; Lee, Geraldine W. X.; Wu, Meng Yue; Ng, Nathaniel S. R.

doi:10.1126/science.aax2146

Cited by 57 publications

(45 citation statements)

References 99 publications

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“…Menui is 183km from the Wakatobi, a relatively short distance for a supposed dispersal specialist which, according to current taxonomy, maintains a range across more than 4000 kilometres of deep water. That the island monarch population of Menui remained undocumented until so recently (Monkhouse et al 2018) demonstrates how our lack of knowledge of little-explored areas of bird endemism still hampers our understanding (Rheindt et al 2020). Inadequate species distribution data (the "Wallacean shortfall") often complicate conservation efforts (Whittaker et al 2005).…”

Section: Phylogenetics and Biogeographymentioning

confidence: 99%

Tramps in transition: genetic differentiation between populations of an iconic "supertramp" taxon in the Central Indo-Pacific

Marcaigh¹,

O’Connell²,

Analuddin³

et al. 2022

Frontiers of Biogeography

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The island monarch (Monarcha cinerascens) was an original example of the "supertramp strategy". This involves well-developed dispersal specialisation, enabling a species to colonise remote islands but leaving it competitively inferior. Supertramps are hypothesised to be excluded from larger islands by superior competitors. It is the only original Melanesian supertramp to occur in Wallacea, home also to the sedentary pale-blue monarch (Hypothymis puella). We interrogate the supertramp strategy and its biogeographical underpinnings by assessing the population structure of these two monarchs. We sampled island and pale-blue monarchs in Wallacea, collecting DNA and morphological data. We investigated monarch population structure by applying ABGD and Bayesian and Maximum Likelihood methods to their ND2 and ND3 genes. We constructed linear models to investigate the relationships between genetic divergence, dispersal ability, and island area, elevation, and isolation. Wallacea's deep waters restrict gene flow even in a supertramp, as the Wallacean and Melanesian island monarchs are likely separate species (mean genetic distance: 2.7%). This mirrors the split of the pale-blue monarch from Asia's black-naped monarch (Hypothymis azurea). We found further population structure within Wallacean and Melanesian island monarch populations. Their genetic divergence was related to elevation, area, and isolation of islands, as well as dispersal ability of birds. However, dispersal ability was independent of island elevation and area. Rather than being r-selected on small, disturbance-prone islands, our results support the view that the island monarch's supertramp lifestyle is a temporary stage of the taxon cycle, i.e. supertramps may transition into resident species after colonisation. Our models suggest that more dispersive monarchs reach more distant islands, and divergence is promoted on islands that are more distant or larger or more permanent, without selection against dispersal ability per se. We suggest that supertramp lifestyle helps determine the distribution of species across islands, not necessarily the divergence occurring thereafter. Highlights• This work interrogates and helps to develop a framework that has been influential in biogeography since the 1970s, that of the "supertramp strategy".• We were able to integrate DNA, distribution data and morphology for the first time, allowing us to assess both the dispersal ability and population structure of the study populations.• We found substantial population structure in the island monarch, one of the original examples of a supertramp, suggesting dispersiveness is not maintained after colonisation.• We found no population structure in the pale-blue monarch, suggesting that it maintains both competitive ability and higher dispersiveness than some other Sulawesi endemics.• Our findings provide evidence for the view that "supertramp" populations represent incipient species, but not for any clear links between competition and dispersal abilities.

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Section: Phylogenetics and Biogeographymentioning

confidence: 99%

Tramps in transition: genetic differentiation between populations of an iconic "supertramp" taxon in the Central Indo-Pacific

Marcaigh¹,

O’Connell²,

Analuddin³

et al. 2022

Frontiers of Biogeography

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“…First, we are likely to underestimate the number of extinct species (Boehm & Cronk, 2021), given that new species keep being described (e.g. Rheindt et al, 2020). Second, it is not always clear which species are native or introduced (Essl et al, 2018).…”

Section: Effects Of Species Compositional Changes On Functional Diversitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Combined effects of bird extinctions and introductions in oceanic islands: decreased functional diversity despite increased species richness

Soares

Lima

Palmeirim

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Aim: We analyse the functional consequences of the changes in species composition resulting from extinctions and introductions on oceanic island bird assemblages. Specifically, we ask if introduced species have compensated the functional loss resulting from species extinctions. Location: Seventy-four oceanic islands (>100 km2) in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Time period: Late Holocene. Major taxa studied: Terrestrial and freshwater bird species. Methods: We compiled a species list per island (extinct and extant, native and introduced), and then compiled traits per species. We used single-trait analyses to assess the effects of past species extinctions and introductions on functional composition. Then, we used probabilistic hypervolumes in trait space to calculate functional richness and evenness of original versus present avifaunas of each island (and net change), and to estimate functional originality of extinct and introduced species. Results: The net effects of extinctions and introductions were: an increase in average species richness per island (alpha diversity), yet a decline in diversity across all islands (gamma diversity); an average increase in the prevalence of most functional traits (23 out of 35) yet an average decline functional richness and evenness, associated with the fact that extinct species were functionally more original (when compared to extant natives) than introduced species. Main conclusions: Introduced species are on average offsetting (and even surpassing) the losses of extinct species per island in terms of species richness, and they are increasing the prevalence of most functional traits. However, they are not compensating the loss of functional richness due to extinctions. Current island bird assemblages are becoming functionally poorer, having lost original species and being composed of functionally more homogeneous species. This is likely to have cascading repercussions on the functioning of island ecosystems.

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“…of Biodiversity Island systems serve as the most interesting model to study gene flow. Although, islands tend to be species poor in comparison to continental landmasses, they are engines of diversification and contribute disproportionately to species biodiversity compared to the area they cover 70,90 . Species richness on islands is dependent on the size of the island, distance to mainland 43 .…”

Section: Gene Flow and Islands As Driversmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gene Flow in Volant Vertebrates: Species Biology, Ecology and Climate Change

Garg

Chattopadhyay

2021

J Indian Inst Sci

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Gene flow, the exchange of genetic material between populations is an important biological process, which shapes and maintains biodiversity. The successful movement of individuals between populations depends on multiple factors determined by species biology and the environment. One of the most important factors regulating gene flow is the ability to move, and flight allows individuals to easily move across geographical barriers. Volant vertebrates are found on some of the remotest islands and contribute significantly to the biodiversity and ecosystem. The availability of next-generation sequencing data for non-model animals has substantially improved our understanding of gene flow and its consequences, allowing us to look at fine-scale patterns. However, most of our understanding regarding gene flow comes from the temperate regions and the Neotropics. The lack of studies from species-rich Asia is striking. In this review, we outline the importance of gene flow and the factors affecting gene flow, especially for volant vertebrates. We especially discuss research studies from tropical biomes of South and Southeast Asia, highlight the lacuna in literature and provide an outline for future studies in this species-rich region.

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A lost world in Wallacea: Description of a montane archipelagic avifauna

Cited by 57 publications

References 99 publications

Tramps in transition: genetic differentiation between populations of an iconic "supertramp" taxon in the Central Indo-Pacific

Tramps in transition: genetic differentiation between populations of an iconic "supertramp" taxon in the Central Indo-Pacific

Combined effects of bird extinctions and introductions in oceanic islands: decreased functional diversity despite increased species richness

Gene Flow in Volant Vertebrates: Species Biology, Ecology and Climate Change

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