Phylogeny and comparative biogeography of Pionopsitta parrots and Pteroglossus toucans

Abstract

Studies of Neotropical birds, and their distributions and areas of endemism, in particular, have been central in the formulation of hypotheses proposed to explain the high species diversity in the Neotropics. We used mtDNA sequence data (ATPase 6 and 8, COI, and cyt b) to reconstruct the species-level phylogenies for two genera, Pionopsitta (Aves: Psittacidae) and Pteroglossus (Aves: Ramphastidae), compare our results with previous morphology-based phylogenetic analyses, and estimate the absolute timing of lineage and biogeographic divergences. Both the Pionopsitta and Pteroglossus phylogenies support a hypothesis of area relationships in which a divergence of the Serra do Mar (Atlantic Forest, Brazil) region of endemism is followed by the divergence of cis-and transAndean regions, then a split between the upper and lower Amazon basin, next the divergence of the Guyana area, and Wnally diversiWcation of taxa in the upper Amazon basin's areas of endemism. Phylogenies of both genera support a hypothesis of area relationships that is similar to that proposed by Prum [XIX International Ornithological Congress (1988), 2562] for high-vagility species, but while they agree on the relative timing of area divergence (vicariance) events, they yield diVerent absolute time estimates for those divergences when the typical avian mtDNA clock calibration is used. Taken at face value, the time estimates indicate that both genera began to diversify before the start of the Pleistocene, and that climatic and habitat shifts alone do not account for the diversiWcation of these taxa. 

Systematic review and cladistic analysis of the Hernandariinae (Opiliones: Gonyleptidae)

“…First, these works and some others (e.g., CRACRAFT & PRUM 1988, AMORIM & PIRES 1996, BATES et al 1998, RON 2000, EBERHARD & BERMINGHAM 2005) have pointed to a common origin for most of the biota in the Atlantic Rain Forest, and its close relationship with the Amazon forest biota. Furthermore, the region where Hernandariinae lives, from Org to SC was secondarily separated from northern areas (AMORIM & PIRES 1996, PINTO-DA-ROCHA et al 2005, YAMAGUTI & PINTO-DA-ROCHA 2009.…”

Influences of oceanic islands and the Pleistocene on the biogeography and evolution of two groups of Australasian parrots (Aves: Psittaciformes: Eclectus roratus, Trichoglossus haematodus complex). Rapid evolution and implications for taxonomy and conservation

“…However, a calibration for cyt b was assumed based on a molecular rate of 2.1% (see Weir & Schluter 2008). This rate has been used in parrots (Groombridge et al 2004;Eberhard & Bermingham 2005;Tavares et al 2006;Ribas & Miyaki 2007;Ribas et al 2009) and other birds for a period of c. 12 million years (Shields & Wilson 1987;Tarr & Fleischer 1993;Fleischer et al 1998;Weir & Schluter 2008).…”

Avian gene trees, landscape evolution, and geology: towards a modern synthesis of Amazonian historical biogeography?

“…The genus Pteroglossus (Ramphastidae) Molecular data published for the Amazonian Pteroglossus viridis/inscriptus and Pteroglossus bitorquatus/flavirostris species complexes showed that these two groups have distinct evolutionary histories (Eberhard and Bermingham 2005). In the former group, the first split occurred between eastern Brazilian and Amazonian populations, followed by the separation between Guianan shield (P. viridis) and southern Amazonian populations (estimated as being completed by 1.5 Ma); the subsequent split involved Brazilian shield (P. inscriptus) and western Amazonian populations (P. I. humboldti) and is thought to have been completed by 1 Ma (Fig.…”