Scientists
from WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society) and the National University of Singapore
(NUS) have made a discovery that could throw out of kilter the significance of
traditional criteria used for species classification.
The
scientists were able to uncover an unusual case of cryptic speciation in the
Streak-eared Bulbul [Pycnonotus blanfordi],
a bird widespread throughout South-east Asian countries. Cryptic
speciation produces closely related sister species that are very similar in
appearance It is only genetic and/or bioacoustics inquiries that reveal
species-level differences. Traditionally, the bird
identification depended on shape and plumage color to classify bird species. Vocalizations
have also been recently added.
After
careful examination, two described subspecies of Streak-eared Bulbul [Pycnonotus blanfordi] resident in
Myanmar [P. b. blanfordi] and
Thailand/Indochina [P. b. conradi] the scientists discovered that they exhibit
deep genome-wide differentiation indicating they are two separate species. They
identified a surprising genetic divergence dating back as far as the early
Pleistocene. The researchers advocate more systematic use of genome-wide DNA
for the detection of cryptic species.
Details appear in the latest issue of journal, Molecular
Phylogenetics and Evolution.
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