Taxonomy and phylogeography of the Pionus maximiliani species complex (Kuhl, 1820)(Aves: Psittacidae)

Author(s)

Cristiane Silva Apolinario dos Santos

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Biociências (IBIOC/SB)
• Defense date: 2017-12-11

Examining board members

Luis Fábio Silveira; Alexandre Luis Padovan Aleixo

• Advisor: Luis Fábio Silveira

Abstract

Pionus maximiliani is a widely distributed species of parrot that is distributed from northeastern Brazil to northern Argentina, and comprises four subspecies: Pionus maximiliani maximiliani (Kuhl, 1820), P. m. siy Souancé, 1856, P. m. melanoblepharus Miranda-Ribeiro, 1920 and P. m. lacerus (Heine, 1884). Although some works have been conducted recently on the phylogenetic history of this group, no formal taxonomic classification has been proposed. Furthermore, the phylogeography of this group has never been analyzed. The objectives of this study were 1) to define species limits within the Pionus maximiliani complex by integrating morphological, vocal, and molecular characters; and 2) to infer the evolutionary and biogeographic history of the complex following a phylogeographic approach. Morphological and molecular results are congruent, supporting the existence of two consistent groups which corresponds to eastern and western populations. Thus, these populations could be considered as full species under the phylogenetic species concept: Pionus maximiliani (Kuhl, 1820) and Pionus siy Souancé, 1856. Estimated divergence times between these groups suggest that the split occurred during the Pleistocene. Further, cycles of forest expansion and retraction in northern Argentina during this period probably allowed the dispersion and posterior divergence between these two populations (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 15/19533-4 - Taxonomy and phylogeography of Pionus maximiliani complex (Aves: Psittacidae)
• Grantee: Cristiane Silva Apolinario dos Santos
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master