Speciation, range contraction and extinction in the endemic New Zealand King Shag complex

Rawlence, Nicolas J.; Till, Charlotte E.; Easton, Luke J.; Spencer, Hamish G.; Schuckard, Rob; Melville, David S.; Scofield, R. Paul; Tennyson, Alan J. D.; Rayner, Matt J.; Waters, Jonathan M.; Kennedy, Martyn

doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2017.07.011

Cited by 14 publications

(15 citation statements)

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“…New Zealand's rich archaeological record [24] presents intriguing opportunities to unravel the often complex dynamics between human populations and indigenous wildlife [25][26][27][28][29][30][31]. Recent analyses of ancient DNA (aDNA) have led to paradigmatic shifts in our understanding of the evolution of NZ's biota [32].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While only a single species of black swan is currently recognized (C. atratus) and seen as a rare example of extirpation and recolonization of NZ by the same species [11,21], some researchers have suggested from morphological evidence that the pre-human black swan may have represented a species complex rather than a single taxon [22,23]. New Zealand's rich archaeological record [24] presents intriguing opportunities to unravel the often complex dynamics between human populations and indigenous wildlife [25][26][27][28][29][30][31]. Recent analyses of ancient DNA (aDNA) have led to paradigmatic shifts in our understanding of the evolution of NZ's biota [32].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Ancient DNA and morphometric analysis reveal extinction and replacement of New Zealand's unique black swans

et al. 2017

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Prehistoric human impacts on megafaunal populations have dramatically reshaped ecosystems worldwide. However, the effects of human exploitation on smaller species, such as anatids (ducks, geese, and swans) are less clear. In this study we apply ancient DNA and osteological approaches to reassess the history of Australasia's iconic black swans () including the palaeo-behaviour of prehistoric populations. Our study shows that at the time of human colonization, New Zealand housed a genetically, morphologically, and potentially ecologically distinct swan lineage (, Poūwa), divergent from modern (Australian) Morphological analyses indicate exhibited classic signs of the 'island rule' effect, being larger, and likely flight-reduced compared to Our research reveals sudden extinction and replacement events within this anatid species complex, coinciding with recent human colonization of New Zealand. This research highlights the role of anthropogenic processes in rapidly reshaping island ecosystems and raises new questions for avian conservation, ecosystem re-wilding, and de-extinction.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ancient DNA and morphometric analysis reveal extinction and replacement of New Zealand's unique black swans

et al. 2017

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“…Although the direct cause of the extinction of P. perspicillatus was probably overexploitation by humans, the whole picture may be more complex, as is the case for recent extinctions of some other large-bodied seabirds (Jones et al 2008, Rawlence et al 2017. It is possible that the cormorant species had already decreased its range when it was first scientifically discovered in the 18th century, or even before the first contact with humans in prehistoric times.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pleistocene fossils from Japan show that the recently extinct Spectacled Cormorant (Phalacrocorax perspicillatus) was a relict

Watanabe

Matsuoka

Hasegawa

2018

The Auk

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Despite increasing attention to geologically recent extinctions in the ocean, little information is available on natural distributions of extinct species before contact with humans. In the North Pacific, a large cormorant, Phalacrocorax perspicillatus (Spectacled/Pallas's Cormorant), was driven to extinction in the 19th century, probably due to overexploitation by humans. So far, no clear evidence has existed for the past presence of the cormorant species outside Bering Island, Commander Islands. We report fossil remains of P. perspicillatus from the upper Pleistocene (Marine Isotope Stage 5e,~120,000 yr ago) of Shiriya, northeast Japan. The occurrence is the first definitive record of the species outside Bering Island, and the first pre-Holocene record for the species, expanding the known geographic and temporal ranges of the species by~2,400 km and~120,000 yr, respectively. It indicates that the species had undergone a drastic range contraction or shift since the Pleistocene, probably before the first contact with humans. Available evidence indicates a drop of oceanic productivity near Shiriya in the Last Glacial Maximum (~17,000 yr ago), which might have affected the local population of the cormorant species and possibly led to the species' local disappearance from this area. In any case, the population of P. perspicillatus on Bering Island at its first scientific discovery should be considered a relict.Fósiles del Pleistoceno de Japón muestran que la especie Phalacrocorax perspicillatus recientemente extinta era un relicto RESUMEN A pesar de la mayor atención a las extinciones recientes en términos geológicos en el océano, hay poca información disponible sobre las distribuciones naturales de especies extintas antes del contacto con los humanos. En el Pacífico del Norte, una especie de cormorán grande Phalacrocorax perspicillatus fue llevada a la extinción en el siglo 19, probablemente debido a la sobreexplotación por parte de los humanos. Hasta ahora, no ha existido información clara de la presencia pasada de esta especie de cormorán afuera de la Isla de Bering, Islas Commander. Aquí, brindamos información sobre restos fósiles de P. perspicillatus provenientes de Pleistoceno tardío (Etapa de Isótopo Marino 5e, 120,000 años atrás) de Shiriya, en el noroeste de Japón. Esta presencia es el primer registro definitivo de la especie afuera de la Isla de Bering, y el primer registro antes de Holoceno para la especie, expandiendo los rangos geográfico y temporal conocidos de la especie en~2400 km y~120,000 años, respectivamente. Esto indica que la especie había experimentado una drástica contracción o desplazamiento del rango desde el Pleistoceno, probablemente antes del contacto con los humanos. La evidencia disponible indica una caída de la productividad del océano cerca de Shiriya en elÚltimo Máximo Glaciar (~17,000 años atrás), lo que podría haber afectado a la población local de esta especie de cormorán y posiblemente haber ocasionado la desaparición local de la especie en esta área. En cualquier caso, la poblac...

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“…Blue-eyed shags ( Leucocarbo spp.) are an ecologically important and highly speciose group of philopatric seabirds exhibiting a circumpolar Southern Ocean distribution, with 17 currently accepted species and subspecies (Kennedy & Spencer, 2014; Rawlence et al, 2017). Many of these taxa are endemic to single island groups (Fig.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…1). Additionally, the small number of lineages that breed on mainland coasts typically exhibit strong phylogeographic structure (Calderon et al, 2014; Kennedy & Spencer, 2014; Rawlence et al, 2015; Rawlence et al, 2017). Preliminary genetic research has suggested that blue-eyed shags comprise two widespread, species-rich clades: a sub-Antarctic clade encompassing South America, Antarctica, and high-latitude sub-Antarctic islands; and the other occurring across the New Zealand region (Fig.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rapid radiation of Southern Ocean shags in response to receding sea ice

Rawlence

Salis

Spencer

et al. 2021

Preprint

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AimUnderstanding how wild populations respond to climatic shifts is a fundamental goal of biological research in a fast-changing world. The Southern Ocean represents a fascinating system for assessing large-scale climate-driven biological change, as it contains extremely isolated island groups within a predominantly westerly, circumpolar wind and current system. The blue-eyed shags (Leucocarbo spp.) represent a paradoxical Southern Ocean seabird radiation; a circumpolar distribution implies strong dispersal capacity yet their speciose nature suggests local adaptation and isolation. Here we use genetic tools in an attempt to resolve this paradox.LocationSouthern Ocean.Taxa17 species and subspecies of blue-eyed shags (Leucocarbo spp.) across the geographical distribution of the genus.MethodsHere we use mitochondrial and nuclear sequence data to conduct the first global genetic analysis of this group using a temporal phylogenetic framework to test for rapid speciation.ResultsOur analysis reveals remarkably shallow evolutionary histories among island-endemic lineages, consistent with a recent high-latitude circumpolar radiation. This rapid sub-Antarctic expansion contrasts with significantly deeper lineages detected in more temperate regions such as South America and New Zealand that may have acted as glacial refugia. The dynamic history of high-latitude expansions is further supported by ancestral demographic and biogeographic reconstructions.Main conclusionsThe circumpolar distribution of blue-eyed shags, and their highly dynamic evolutionary history, potentially make Leucocarbo a strong sentinel of past and ongoing Southern Ocean ecosystem change given their sensitivity to climatic impacts.

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Speciation, range contraction and extinction in the endemic New Zealand King Shag complex

Cited by 14 publications

References 49 publications

Ancient DNA and morphometric analysis reveal extinction and replacement of New Zealand's unique black swans

Ancient DNA and morphometric analysis reveal extinction and replacement of New Zealand's unique black swans

Pleistocene fossils from Japan show that the recently extinct Spectacled Cormorant (Phalacrocorax perspicillatus) was a relict

Rapid radiation of Southern Ocean shags in response to receding sea ice

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