Topic
Acrocephalidae
About: Acrocephalidae is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 2 publications have been published within this topic receiving 8 citations. The topic is also known as: Acrocephalid warblers.
Papers
TL;DR: Multifactorial analysis showed that vocalisations of Marquesan reed warblers differ slightly between species, significant differences between islands leading to different dialects, and the importance of integrative analyses, using both genetic and phenotypical characters, for the study of the evolutionary history of the Pacific Ocean avifauna.
Abstract: The Pacific Ocean is the site of the most important diversification of insular reed warblers (Acrocephalus). In the Marquesas Islands (Eastern Polynesia), reed warblers belong to two distinct lineages that have reached the archipelago independently. We used mitochondrial sequences and microsatellite markers and found evidence of gene flow between the two lineages. One island in particular, Nuku Hiva, seems to act as the main contact zone between the two taxa. We then used reflectance spectrometry to evaluate the variation of carotenoid colouration among all populations. Marquesan reed warblers exhibit convergent evolution in carotenoid-based plumage colouration, but variation among islands was important. Having two different phylogenetic origins, the two lineages acquired their yellow colour independently and there is stochastic variation in plumage among islands. Finally, we analysed the songs of reed warblers from the main islands. Multifactorial analysis showed that vocalisations of Marquesan r...
7 citations
TL;DR: An evaluation of the morphological variation of a terrestrial bird across the largest chain of atolls in the world is provided and morphological and molecular analyses suggest that all low-lying atoll populations should be merged into a single taxon, atyphus.
Abstract: The Tuamotu Reed-Warbler (Acrocephalus atyphus) is a small insectivorous passerine endemic to eastern Polynesia in the Pacific Ocean. To complement a previous study of the phylogeography of this species based on molecular data, we undertook an analysis based on morphological characters taken from study skins and live birds and propose a new classification for the Tuamotu Reed-Warbler. Three of the six subspecies previously recognised, eremus, palmarum and niauensis, can be diagnosed by both morphological and genetic characters and all are found on uplifted coral islands with a peculiar geomorphology (a shallow or absent lagoon) and elevations higher than average for Tuamotu atolls. Conversely, morphological and molecular analyses suggest that all low-lying atoll populations should be merged into a single taxon, atyphus. Finally, we suggest priorities for conservation for this endemic bird. This study provides an evaluation of the morphological variation of a terrestrial bird across the largest chain of atolls in the world.
6 citations
Related Topics (5)
Performance Metrics
| Year | Papers |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |