A revision of species limits in Neotropical pipits Anthus based on multilocus genetic and vocal data

Abstract

Previous investigations of the systematics of Neotropical pipits Anthus revealed multiple cases of paraphyly. We revised the species limits of this group based on sequence data of mitochondrial (ND2) and nuclear genes (ACOI9, MB, FGB5) from 39 tissue samples of all 22 subspecies‐level taxa in the New World Anthus clade, as well as analysis of display song. We found that Anthus lutescens peruvianus is not part of Yellowish Pipit Anthus lutescens genetically or vocally; thus, we elevate peruvianus to species rank (Peruvian Pipit). Anthus lutescens abariensis Chubb (Bull. Br. Orn. Club., 41, 1921a, 79) should be placed in synonymy with Anthus lutescens parvus (instead of A. l. lutescens), at least until further morphological or vocal data become available. Paramo Pipit Anthus bogotensis is likewise paraphyletic, with Anthus meridae sister to all other bogotensis subspecies and also to Hellmayr's Pipit Anthus hellmayri. However, placement of the taxon is based on a relatively short stretch of mitochondrial DNA, and further data are needed. Andean populations of Short‐billed Pipit Anthus furcatus are split as Puna Pipit Anthus brevirostris, based on genetic and vocal data. South Georgia Pipit Anthus antarcticus is, at least genetically, part of Correndera Pipit Anthus correndera, and we recommend considering it a subspecies of Correndera Pipit, in line with the taxonomy of other morphologically distinct but genetically little‐differentiated insular bird taxa.

First steps towards assessing the evolutionary history and phylogeography of a widely distributed Neotropical grassland bird (Motacillidae:Anthus correndera)

“…However, the monophyly of B is poorly supported and did not show a structured pattern of geographic differentiation congruent with current morphology-based taxonomy of A. correndera . We found A. antarcticus to be embedded within the lowlands clade, and unlike what was reported by Voelker (1999) and Van Els & Norambuena (2018) in their analyses of the Anthus genera, this species seems not closer to correndera or grayi than to chilensis - catamarcae . Unfortunately, the low sample sizes of some of the subspecies/regions could result in the low resolution of clade B.…”

“…Although A. antarcticus is phenotypically clearly different from A. correndera , with a streaked, dark appearance and bigger size ( Tyler, 2004 ), it has been suggested that this taxon could have differentiated after South Georgia was colonized by specimens of A. correndera ( Tyler, 2004 ). However, recent information based on a multilocus analysis, suggests that A. correndera is a species complex, with A. c. catamarcae sister to A. c. calcaratus , A. c. correndera sister to A. c. chilensis and A. c. grayi sister to the species A. antarcticus, which is nested within this complex ( Van Els & Norambuena, 2018 ).…”

babette: BEAUti 2, BEAST2 and Tracer for R

“…This code will create a (temporary) BEAST2 configuration file, from the FASTA file with name anthus_aco.fas (which is supplied with the package, from Van Els & Norambuena, ), using the same default settings as BEAUti, which are, among others, a Jukes‐Cantor site model, a strict clock, and a Yule birth tree prior. babette will then execute BEAST2 using that file, and parses the output.…”

babette: BEAUti 2, BEAST2 and Tracer for R

“…This code will create a (temporary) BEAST2 configuration file, from the FASTA file with name anthus_aco.fas (which is supplied with the package, from (Van Els & Norambuena 2018)), using the same default settings as BEAUti, which are, among others, a Jukes-Cantor site model, a strict clock, and a Yule birth tree prior. will then execute BEAST2 using that file, and parses the output.…”