| 51. |
- Alström, Per, Professor, et al.
(författare)
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Integrative taxonomy reveals unrecognised species diversity in African Corypha larks (Aves: Alaudidae)
- 2023
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Ingår i: Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. - : Oxford University Press. - 0024-4082 .- 1096-3642.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The species complex comprising the rufous-naped lark Corypha africana, Sharpe's lark Corypha sharpii, the red-winged lark Corypha hypermetra, the Somali long-billed lark Corypha somalica and Ash's lark Corypha ashi encompasses 31 recognised taxa across sub-Saharan Africa, many of which are extremely poorly known and some not observed for decades. Only 17 taxa have been studied molecularly and none comprehensively for morphology, vocalisations or other behaviours. Here, we undertake comprehensive integrative taxonomic analyses based on plumage and morphometrics (for 97% of the taxa), mitochondrial and nuclear loci (77%), <= 1.3 million genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms (68%), song (many described for the first time; 52%) and additional behavioural data (45%). All polytypic species as presently circumscribed are paraphyletic, with eight primary clades separated by <= 6.3-6.8 Myr, broadly supported by plumage, morphometrics, song and other behaviours. The most recent divergences concern sympatric taxon pairs usually treated as separate species, whereas the divergence of all clades including C. africana subspecies is as old as sister species pairs in other lark genera. We propose the recognition of nine instead of five species, while C. ashi is synonymised with C. somalica rochei as C. s. ashi. The geographical distributions are incompletely known, and although the nine species are generally para-/allopatric, some might be sympatric.
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| 52. |
- Alström, Per
(författare)
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Is the Soft Song of the Brownish-Flanked Bush Warbler an Aggressive Signal?
- 2013
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Ingår i: Ethology. - : Wiley. - 0179-1613 .- 1439-0310. ; 119, s. 653-661
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Soft songs have been detected in many songbirds, but in most species, research on soft songs has lagged behind studies of broadcast songs. In this study, we describe the acoustic features of a soft song in the brownish-flanked bush warbler Cettia fortipes. Compared with the broadcast song, the warbler's soft song was characterized by a lower minimum frequency and longer duration, and it had a higher proportion of rapid frequency modulation notes. Using playback experiments, some in combination with mounted specimens, we found different responses to soft and broadcast songs, and we found that soft song can predict aggressive escalation (attack). We conclude that the soft song is an aggressive signal in this species.
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| 53. |
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| 54. |
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| 55. |
- Alström, Per, Professor, et al.
(författare)
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Mongolian Short-toed LarkCalandrella dukhunensis, an overlooked East Asian species
- 2021
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Ingår i: Journal of Ornithology. - : Springer. - 2193-7192 .- 2193-7206. ; 162:1, s. 165-177
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The eastern subspecies of Greater Short-toed LarkCalandrella brachydactyla dukhunensishas recently been considered a separate species,Calandrella dukhunensis, by several authors based on molecular data. We present supporting evidence for this treatment based on studies of morphology, vocalisations and song-flight, and also present new data on other aspects of its biology based on field studies. We show that its breeding distribution is considerably smaller than previously thought, and is restricted to the eastern half of Mongolia and, marginally, neighbouring parts of China and perhaps Russia.
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| 56. |
- Alström, P., et al.
(författare)
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Morphological, vocal and genetic divergence in the Cettia acanthizoides complex (Aves: Cettiidae)
- 2007
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Ingår i: Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0024-4082 .- 1096-3642. ; 149:3, s. 437-452
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We used morphological, vocal and molecular (one mitochondrial and two nuclear loci) data to re-evaluate the taxonomic status of the taxa acanthizoides, concolor, and brunnescens in the Cettia acanthizoides (J. Verreaux, 1871) complex. We conclude that all three are valid taxa, and that acanthizoides of China and concolor of Taiwan are best treated as conspecific, whereas brunnescens of the Himalayas is better considered as a separate species. The degree of morphological, vocal, and genetic differentiation is variably congruent among all taxa; the recently separated acanthizoides and concolor differ slightly in plumage and structure but are indistinguishable in vocalizations, whereas the earlier diverged brunnescens and acanthizoides/concolor differ only slightly more in morphology but to a much greater degree in vocalizations. We stress the essential nature of taxonomic revisions as a prerequisite for the biodiversity estimates required for conservation planning.
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| 57. |
- Alström, Per, Professor, et al.
(författare)
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Morphology, vocalizations, and mitochondrial DNA suggest that the Graceful Prinia is two species
- 2021
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Ingår i: Ornithology. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0004-8038 .- 2732-4613 .- 1938-4254. ; 138:2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Prinias (Cisticolidae:Prinia) are resident warblers of open areas across Africa and Asia and include many polytypic species whose species limits have not been seriously reevaluated recently. Based on an integrative taxonomic analysis of morphology, song, and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), we suggest that 2 species should be recognized in the Graceful Prinia (Prinia gracilis) complex. In addition, our morphological analyses show the existence of a well-marked undescribed form in southeastern Somalia, which we name herein as a new subspecies. Prinia gracilisis a small, drab, long-tailed species with streaking above and plain pale underparts that has been suggested to fall into 2 groups: the southwestern nominate group (from Egypt to Oman) and the northeastern lepida group (from Turkey through India). However, the characters presented to justify this grouping are variable and show a mosaic pattern, and whether genetic and vocal differences exist is unknown. We found consistent between-group song differences, with the nominate group giving consistently longer inter-phrase intervals, whereas the members of the lepida group sing an essentially continuous reel. An mtDNA tree suggests a deep split between the nominate and lepida groups, with a coalescence time between these clades of similar to 2.2 million years ago. Vocal and mtDNA analyses provided evidence that the northeastern Arabian Peninsula taxon carpenteri belongs to the lepida group. We found that, of all the morphological characters proposed, only proportions and tail barring and spotting relatively consistently distinguish the 2 groups. However, these characters strongly suggest that the eastern Arabian Peninsula is populated by taxa of both the gracilis and lepida groups, in different areas, but we lack genetic and bioacoustic data to corroborate this. Although further study is needed in potential contact zones, we suggest that 2 species should be recognized in the P. gracilis complex, and we propose the retention of the English name Graceful Prinia for P. gracilis sensu stricto, while we suggest that P. lepida be known as Delicate Prinia.
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| 58. |
- Alström, Per
(författare)
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Multi-locus phylogeny of the family Acrocephalidae (Aves: Passeriformes) - The traditional taxonomy overthrown
- 2009
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Ingår i: Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. - : Elsevier BV. - 1055-7903 .- 1095-9513. ; 52, s. 866-878
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We present the first study of the warbler family Acrocephaliclae based on one mitochondrial and three nuclear DNA loci, in total similar to 2900 bp, including most or all of the species in three (Acrocephalus, Hippolais and Chloropeta) of the four genera and one species in the fourth genus (Nesillas) in this family. All three genera were suggested to be non-monophyletic, although the non-monophyly of Acrocephalus is not fully convincingly demonstrated. Six major clades were found, which agreed largely with the results from two earlier mitochondrial studies, and for which the names Hippolais, Iduna, Acrocephalus, Calamocichla, Notiocichla and Calamodus have been used. However, the results also revealed some new constellations, due to better resolution of deeper nodes and the inclusion of more taxa. The taxonomic implications are discussed. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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| 59. |
- Alström, Per, et al.
(författare)
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Multilocus phylogeny of the avian family Alaudidae (larks) reveals complex morphological evolution, non-monophyletic genera and hidden species diversity
- 2013
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Ingår i: Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. - : Elsevier BV. - 1055-7903 .- 1095-9513. ; 69:3, s. 1043-1056
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Alaudidae (larks) is a large family of songbirds in the superfamily Sylvioidea. Larks are cosmopolitan, although species-level diversity is by far largest in Africa, followed by Eurasia, whereas Australasia and the New World have only one species each. The present study is the first comprehensive phylogeny of the Alaudidae. It includes 83.5% of all species and representatives from all recognised genera, and was based on two mitochondrial and three nuclear loci (in total 6.4 kbp, although not all loci were available for all species). In addition, a larger sample, comprising several subspecies of some polytypic species was analysed for one of the mitochondrial loci. There was generally good agreement in trees inferred from different loci, although some strongly supported incongruences were noted. The tree based on the concatenated multilocus data was overall well resolved and well supported by the data. We stress the importance of performing single gene as well as combined data analyses, as the latter may obscure significant incongruence behind strong nodal support values. The multilocus tree revealed many unpredicted relationships, including some non-monophyletic genera (Calandrella, Mirafra, Melanocorypha, Spizocorys). The tree based on the extended mitochondrial data set revealed several unexpected deep divergences between taxa presently treated as conspecific (e.g. within Ammomanes cinctura, Ammomanes deserti, Calandrella brachydactyla, Eremophila alpestris), as well as some shallow splits between currently recognised species (e.g. Certhilauda brevirostris-C semitorquata-C curvirostris; Calendulauda barlowi-C. erythrochlamys; Mirafra cantillans-M. javanica). Based on our results, we propose a revised generic classification, and comment on some species limits. We also comment on the extraordinary morphological adaptability in larks, which has resulted in numerous examples of parallel evolution (e.g. in Melanocorypha mongolica and Alauda leucoptera [both usually placed in Melanocorypha]; Ammomanopsis grayi and Ammomanes cinctura/deserti [former traditionally placed in Ammomanes]; Chersophilus duponti and Certhilauda spp.; Eremopterix hova [usually placed in Mirafra] and several Mirafra spp.), as well as both highly conserved plumages (e.g. within Mirafra) and strongly divergent lineages (e.g. Eremopterix hova vs. other Eremopterix spp.; Calandrella cinerea complex vs. Eremophila spp.; Eremalauda dunni vs. Chersophilus duponti; Melanocorypha mongolica and male M. yeltoniensis vs. other Melanocoupha spp. and female M. yeltoniensis). Sexual plumage dimorphism has evolved multiple times. Few groups of birds show the same level of disagreement between taxonomy based on morphology and phylogenetic relationships as inferred from DNA sequences. (C) 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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| 60. |
- Alström, Per, Professor, et al.
(författare)
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Multiple species delimitation approaches applied to the avian lark genus Alaudala
- 2021
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Ingår i: Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. - : Elsevier BV. - 1055-7903 .- 1095-9513. ; 154
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Species delimitation has advanced from a purely phenotypic exercise to a branch of science that integrates multiple sources of data to identify independently evolving lineages that can be treated as species. We here test species limits in the avian Lesser Short-toed Lark Alaudala rufesens-Sand Lark A. raytal complex, which has an intricate taxonomic history, ranging from a single to three recognised species, with different inclusiveness in different treatments. Our integrative taxonomic approach is based on a combination of DNA sequences, plumage, biometrics, songs, song-flights, geographical distributions, habitat, and bioclimatic data, and using various methods including a species delimitation program (STACEY) based on the multispecies coalescent model. We propose that four species should be recognised: Lesser Short-toed Lark A. rufescens (sensu stricto), Heine's Short-toed Lark A. heinei, Asian Short-toed Lark A. cheleensis and Sand Lark A. raytal. There is also some evidence suggesting lineage separation within A. cheleensis and A. raytal, but additional data are required to evaluate this. The species delimitation based on STACEY agrees well with the non-genetic data. Although computer-based species delimitation programs can be useful in identifying independently evolving lineages, we stress that whenever possible, species hypotheses proposed by these programs should be tested by independent, non-genetic data. Our results highlight the difficulty and subjectivity of delimiting lineages and species, especially at early stages in the speciation process.
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