Complex biogeographic history of a Holarctic passerine

Abstract

Our analysis of the ND2 sequences revealed six clades within winter wrens (Troglodytes troglodytes). These clades corresponded to six geographical regions: western Nearctic, eastern Nearctic, eastern Asia, Nepal, Caucasus and Europe, and differed by 3-8.8% of sequence divergence. Differences among regions explained 96% of the sequence variation in winter wren. Differences among individuals within localities explained 3% of the sequence variation, and differences among localities within regions explained 1%. Grouping sequences into subspecies instead of localities did not change these proportions. Proliferation of the six clades coincided with Early and Middle Pleistocene glaciations. The distribution of winter wren clades can be explained by a series of five consecutive vicariant events. Western Nearctic wrens diverged from the Holarctic ancestor 1.6 Myr before the present time (MYBP). Eastern Nearctic and Palaearctic wrens diverged 1 MYBP. Eastern and western Palaearctic birds diverged 0.83 MYBP. Nepalese and east Asian wrens diverged 0.67 MYBP, and Caucasian birds diverged from European wrens 0.54 MYBP. The winter wren has a much greater degree of inter- and intracontinental differentiation than the three other Holarctic birds studied to date--dunlin (Calidris alpina), common raven (Corvus corax) and three-toed woodpecker (Picoides trydactylus)--and represents an example of cryptic speciation that has been overlooked.

DNA barcoding of Scandinavian birds reveals divergent lineages in trans-Atlantic species

“…Typically, such species are divided into one or more different subspecies on each continent, based primarily on morphology (del Hoyo et al 1992(del Hoyo et al -2008. Recent studies of genetic divergence in a few Holarctic species have found relatively high levels of divergence between Palearctic and Nearctic populations (e.g., Drovetski et al 2004;Koopman et al 2005;Zink et al 2006). To date, no comprehensive study of the genetic divergence between populations on each side of the Atlantic Ocean has been performed.…”

Fifty-First Supplement to the American Ornithologists' UnionCheck-List of North American Birds

“…Sight reports (Kroodsma 1980, Hejl et al 2002 and mitochondrial DNA (Drovetski et al 2004). Formerly considered conspecific with T. hiemalis but separated on the basis of the absence of free interbreeding and maintenance of genetic integrity in their contact zone (Toews and Irwin 2008).…”

Genetic Structure of the Common Eider in the Western Aleutian Islands Prior to Fox Eradication

“…The Pacific Wren was recently split from the Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis) based on song, genetic structure, and reproductive isolation in areas of sympatry (Toews and Irwin 2008); the species was also split from the Eurasian Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes) in Europe and Asia, primarily due to differences in genetic structure (Drovetski et al 2004, Chesser et al 2010). However, a detailed within-species assessment of the population genetics of Pacific Wrens in Alaska is currently insufficient to assess the conservation status of the populations and subspecies occurring there, and the need for additional information has been identified as a priority for future research (Toews and Irwin 2012).…”