Generation of raptor diversity in Europe: linking speciation with climate changes and the ability to migrate

Abstract

Europe holds a rich community of diurnal birds of prey, and the highest proportion of transcontinental migratory raptorial species of any landmass. This study will test the hypotheses that the high diversification of the raptor assemblage in Europe is a recent event, that closely related species sharing the same trophic niches can only coexist in sympatry during the breeding period, when food availability is higher, and finally that migration is a function of size, with the smaller species in every trophic group moving further. A consensus molecular phylogeny for the 38 regular breeding species of raptors in Europe was obtained from BirdTree (www.birdtree.org). For the same species, a trophic niche cluster dendrogram was constructed. Size and migratory strategy were introduced in the resulting phylogeny, where trophic groups were also identified. Multispecific trophic groups tended to be composed of reciprocal sister species of different sizes, while monospecific groups (n = 3) were composed of highly specialized species. Many speciation events took place recently, during the glacial cycles of the Quaternary, and size divergence among competing species may be due to character displacement. Nowadays, the smaller species in every trophic group migrate to sub-Saharan Africa. This investigation illustrates how the rich assemblage of diurnal birds of prey in Europe, more diverse and more migratory than, for instance, the North American assemblage at equivalent latitudes, has emerged recently due to the multiplication of look-alike species with similar trophic ecologies, possibly in climate refugia during cold periods.

Novel phylogenetic clade of avian Haemoproteus parasites (Haemosporida, Haemoproteidae) from Accipitridae raptors, with description of a new Haemoproteus species

“…However, they represent a good model group for the study of blood parasites because they are widespread across large geographical areas, found in a variety of habitats, and commonly delivered in wildlife rescue centres. They are ecologically sensitive apex predators and valuable indicators of habitat quality [28,37,39].…”

New Insights into the Cosmetic Behaviour of Bearded Vultures: Ferruginous Springs Are Shared Sequentially

“…The bright red-orange colours on the neck, head and ventral parts of bearded vultures are due to the iron oxide particles found in ochre in the applied soil [3][4][5][6][7]. Hominins, including Homo neanderthalensis and H. sapiens, have stained their bodies with ochre for more than 200,000 years [8], possibly in behavioural imitation, or biomimetism, of bearded vultures [6], whose evolution pre-dates that of humans [9], and which are distributed in Africa and Eurasia, coinciding with the cradle of the human lineage and its subsequent expansions out of Africa. In addition, hominins and vultures have shared the same habitats (i.e., rocky outcrops and caves) and foraging practices (i.e., carcasses of large animals) for millennia [10].…”