Improved systematics of lorikeets reflects their evolutionary history and frames conservation priorities

Showcasing the application of genetics for the conservation management of austral birds

“…The papers in this Emu Austral Ornithology special issue -Conservation Genetics: Showcasing Applications in Austral Birds -clearly demonstrate that genetic data can inform conservation efforts in myriad ways. From delineating conservation management units and revising taxonomy (Burbidge et al 2021;Grosser et al 2021;Joseph et al 2020;, to examining population structure and connectivity within species (Beckmann et al 2021;Brown et al 2021;Lohr et al 2020;Taylor et al 2021;Wold et al 2021), to informing translocation management (Bolton et al 2021;Cowen et al 2021;Dwyer et al 2021;Taylor et al 2021), to understanding better the life histories of threatened species (Forsdick et al 2021), to using genetic data to infer past and future extinctions (Cowles et al 2021;Grosser et al 2021;Ramstad et al 2021), through to landscape-level longitudinal studies across multiple species (Radford et al 2021), we have shown that genetics is a powerful tool that should be in every conservation manager's toolbox.…”

“…In the discussion below, we include two highly relevant papers originally intended for inclusion in this special issue but published in 2020 (Joseph et al 2020;Lohr et al 2020).…”

“…Sometimes, different species or units show little morphological variation or, conversely, a phenotypic trait is extremely plastic, leading to great differentiation within a species or unit (Dussex et al 2018). Four papers in this special issue demonstrate the advantage of using phenotypic data in tandem with genetic data and phylogenetic approaches to provide a stronger framework to help inform conservation management (Burbidge et al 2021;Grosser et al 2021;Joseph et al 2020;. Grosser et al (2021) showcase the use of genetic data in delineating taxa or conservation units previously described based on morphology alone.…”

“…At the other end of the taxonomic and phenotypic distinctiveness scale is Joseph et al (2020)'s exploration of genus-level systematics among the distinctive, boldly patterned lorikeets (Psittaciformes: Loriini). Despite their showy plumages, this group has had a long history of uncertain and changeable taxonomy across both its often polytypic species complexes and at the genus level.…”

“…Despite their showy plumages, this group has had a long history of uncertain and changeable taxonomy across both its often polytypic species complexes and at the genus level. Zooming out from the species versus subspecies question, Joseph et al (2020) use a combination of genomic and quantitative colour data to tackle long-standing genuslevel taxonomic questions and produce a refined genuslevel taxonomy for lorikeets. Six species are moved to three new genera (Saudareos, Synorhacma, Charmosynoides) to create a more stable taxonomy that can be used to guide conservation and management of lorikeets in the future.…”