Norfolk Island Robins are a distinct endangered species: ancient DNA unlocks surprising relationships and phenotypic discordance within the Australo-Pacific Robins

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dc.contributor.authorKearns, Anna M.
dc.contributor.authorJoseph, Leo
dc.contributor.authorWhite, Lauren C.
dc.contributor.authorAustin, Jeremy J.
dc.contributor.authorBaker, Caitlin
dc.contributor.authorDriskell, Amy C.
dc.contributor.authorMalloy, John F.
dc.contributor.authorOmland, Kevin E.
dc.date.accessioned2018-11-08T17:54:26Z
dc.date.available2018-11-08T17:54:26Z
dc.date.issued2015-09-22
dc.description.abstractUncertain taxonomy hinders the effective prioritization of taxa for conservation. This problem is acute for understudied island populations in the southwest Pacific Ocean, which are increasingly threatened by habitat loss, predation and climate change. Here, we offer the first test of taxonomic limits and phylogenetic affinities of the iconic Pacific Robin radiation (Petroica multicolor) in order to prioritize the conservation of its nominotypical subspecies, the endangered Norfolk Island Robin (P. m. multicolor). We integrate phylogenetic analyses of ancient DNA and quantitative measures of plumage and morphometric variation to show that the Norfolk Island Robin should be recognized as a distinct species. Phenotypic and genetic datasets contradict the longstanding treatment of Pacific Robins (including Norfolk Island Robins) and Scarlet Robins (P. boodang) as a single species. Instead, we show that Norfolk Island Robins are deeply divergent from Scarlet Robins and have more genetic similarity to Red-capped Robins (P. goodenovii) than to other Pacific Robins. This finding is unrepresentative of the current taxonomic and conservation status of the Norfolk Island Robin, which we propose should be recognised as an endemic endangered species. Our study clearly shows that in the absence of contemporary tissues, ancient DNA approaches using historical museum specimens can address taxonomic questions that morphological traits are unable to resolve. Further, it highlights the need for similar studies of other threatened Norfolk fauna with uncertain taxonomic status in order to ensure appropriate conservation prioritization.en_US
dc.description.urihttp://agris.fao.org/agris-search/search.do?recordID=US201600123253en_US
dc.format.extent15 pagesen_US
dc.genrejournal articlesen_US
dc.identifierdoi:10.13016/M2GX44Z5F
dc.identifier.citationAnna M. Kearns, Leo Joseph, Lauren C. White, Jeremy J. Austin, Caitlin Baker, Amy C. Driskell, John F. Malloy, Kevin E. Omland, "Norfolk Island Robins are a distinct endangered species: ancient DNA unlocks surprising relationships and phenotypic discordance within the Australo-Pacific Robins", Conservation Genetics April 2016, Volume 17, Issue 2, pp 321–335, doi: 10.1007/s10592-015-0783-4en_US
dc.identifier.uri10.1007/s10592-015-0783-4
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11603/11925
dc.language.isoen_USen_US
dc.publisherSpringer Nature Switzerland AG.en_US
dc.relation.isAvailableAtThe University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC)
dc.relation.ispartofUMBC Biological Sciences Department Collection
dc.relation.ispartofUMBC Faculty Collection
dc.rightsThis item is likely protected under Title 17 of the U.S. Copyright Law. Unless on a Creative Commons license, for uses protected by Copyright Law, contact the copyright holder or the author.
dc.subjectAncient DNAen_US
dc.subjectConservation geneticsen_US
dc.subjectEndangered speciesen_US
dc.subjectInsular speciationen_US
dc.subjectNorfolk Islanden_US
dc.subjectPacificen_US
dc.titleNorfolk Island Robins are a distinct endangered species: ancient DNA unlocks surprising relationships and phenotypic discordance within the Australo-Pacific Robinsen_US
dc.typeTexten_US

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