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Multi-locus reassessment of a striking discord between mtDNA gene trees and taxonomy across two congeneric species complexes

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Authors

  • Drovetski, Sergei V., Reeves, Andrew B., Red'kin, Yaroslav A., Fadeev, Igor V., Koblik, Evgeniy A., Sotnikov, Vladimir N. and Voelker, Gary

Abstract

  • Resolving relationships among members of the yellow and citrine wagtail species complexes is among the greatest challenges in avian systematics due to arguably the most dramatic disagreements between traditional taxonomy and mtDNA phylogeny. Each species complex is divided into three geographically cohesive mtDNA clades. Each clade from one species complex has a sister from the other complex. Furthermore, one cross-complex pair is more distantly related to the remaining two pairs than are several other wagtail species. To test mtDNA gene tree topology, we sequenced the mtDNA ND2 gene and 11 nuclear introns for seven wagtail species. Our mtDNA gene tree reconstruction supported the results of previous studies, thereby confirming the disagreement between mtDNA phylogeny and taxonomy. However, our multi-locus species tree which used mtDNA clades as "taxa" was consistent with traditional taxonomy regardless of whether mtDNA was included in the analysis or not. Our multi-locus data suggest that despite the presence of strongly supported, geographically structured mtDNA variation, the mtDNA gene tree misrepresents the evolutionary history of the yellow and citrine wagtail complexes. This mito-nuclear discord results from mtDNA representing the biogeographic, but not evolutionary history of these recently radiated Palearctic wagtails.

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Publication Date

  • 2017

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Digital Object Identifier (doi)

Additional Document Info

Start Page

  • 423

End Page

  • 433