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Speciation in African forest robins (Stiphronis) : species limits, phylogentic relationships, and molecular biology

by: Beresford, Pamela, ornithologist

Publication date: 1999

Topics: Stiphronis sanghensis, Stiphronis, Variation, Molecular genetics, Birds, Stiphronis sanghensis -- Classification, Stiphronis -- Variation, Stiphronis -- Molecular genetics, Birds -- Central African Republic -- Classification, Birds -- Variation -- Africa, Sub-Saharan, Birds -- Africa, Sub-Saharan -- Molecular genetics

Publisher: New York, NY : American Museum of Natural History

Collection: americanmuseumnaturalhistory; biodiversity

Digitizing sponsor: American Museum of Natural History Library

Contributor: American Museum of Natural History Library

Language: English

Volume: no. 3270

22 p. : 26 cm

"The monotypic genus Stiphrornis (Aves: Turdidae) is revised under a phylogenetic species concept to include four species, one of which, from the southwest Central African Republic, is new. Mitochondrial DNA sequence data are analyzed to explore the phylogenetic relationships within Stiphrornis. These data indicate relatively high levels of sequence divergence among the species and corroborate their recognition as diagnosable taxa, a conclusion also supported by morphological evidence. These findings, along with the allopatric distributions of the species, compel attention to their phylogenetic and spatial history, which was not explored when this group was ascribed to a single "biological" species. Data reviewed here also suggest that the northwest Congo Basin forest, where the new species was discovered, is more zoogeographically complex than has been previously sus-pected. In addition, application of a phylogenetic species concept emphasizes the narrow endemism of S. gabonensis and S. sanghensis, along with its implications for conserving their threatened habitats. The findings of this paper also reinforce the notion that patterns of geographic variation in the lowland forests of West and Central Africa are still incompletely understood and that the impact of environmental and geological history on the diversification of the forest avifauna has not yet been fully explored"--P. [1]

Title from caption

"August 10, 1999."

Includes bibliographical references (p. 19-21)

Abstract: 'The monotypic genus Stiphrornis (Aves: Turdidae) is revised under a phylogenetic species concept to include four species, one of which, from the southwest Central African Republic, is new. Mitochondrial DNA sequence data are analyzed to explore the phylogenetic relationships within Stiphrornis. These data indicate relatively high levels of sequence divergence among the species and corroborate their recognition as diagnosable taxa, a conclusion also supported by morphological evidence. These findings, along with the allopatric distributions of the species, compel attention to their phylogenetic and spatial history, which was not explored when this group was ascribed to a single 'biological' species. Data reviewed here also suggest that the northwest Congo Basin forest, where the new species was discovered, is more zoogeographically complex than has been previously sus-pected. In addition, application of a phylogenetic species concept emphasizes the narrow endemism of S. gabonensis and S. sanghensis, along with its implications for conserving their threatened habitats. The findings of this paper also reinforce the notion that patterns of geographic variation in the lowland forests of West and Central Africa are still incompletely understood and that the impact of environmental and geological history on the diversification of the forest avifauna has not yet been fully explored'--P. [1].