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in Garg, Gwee, Chattopadhyay, Ng, Prawiradilaga, David, ... et Rheindt, 2024. |
Highlights
• Current classification of birds in the flycatcher subfamily Niltavinae based on plumage is misleading.
• Bioacoustics along with genome-wide data provide an accurate picture of diversification in this subfamily.
• Bird song can also be used to differentiate at the level of the genus.
• Extensive taxonomic revision of the flycatcher subfamily Niltavinae.
Abstract
Traditional classification of many animals, including birds, has been highly dependent on external morphological characters like plumage coloration. However, both bioacoustics and genetic or genomic data have revolutionized our understanding of the relationships of certain lineages and led to sweeping taxonomic re-organizations. In this study, we present a case of erroneous delimitation of genus boundaries in the species-rich flycatcher subfamily Niltavinae. Genera within this subfamily have historically been delineated based on blue versus brown male body plumage until recent studies based on a few mitochondrial and nuclear loci unearthed several cases of generic misclassification. Here we use extensive bioacoustic data from 43 species and genomic data from 28 species for a fundamental reclassification of species in the Niltavinae. Our study reveals that song is an important trait to classify these birds even at the genus level, whereas plumage traits exhibit ample convergence and have led to numerous historic misattributions. Our taxonomic re-organization leads to new biogeographic limits of major genera, such that the genus Cyornis now only extends as far east as the islands of Sulawesi, Sula, and Banggai, whereas Eumyias is redefined to extend far beyond Wallace’s Line to the islands of Seram and Timor. Our conclusions advise against an over-reliance on morphological traits and underscore the importance of integrative datasets.
Keywords: Niltavinae, bioacoustics, genome-wide data, taxonomic re-organization
Kritika M. Garg, Chyi Yin Gwee, Balaji Chattopadhyay, Nathaniel S. Ng, Dewi M. Prawiradilaga, Gabriel David, Jérôme Fuchs, Hung Le Manh, Jonathan Martinez, Urban Olsson, Vuong Tan Tu, Sophea Chhin, Per Alström, Fumin Lei and Frank E. Rheindt. 2024. When colors Mislead: Genomics and Bioacoustics prompt re-classification of Asian Flycatcher Radiation (Aves: Niltavinae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. In Press, 107999. DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2023.107999