Congruence of phenotypic and genetic variation at the subspecific level in a Neotropical passerine

NATALIA C. GARCÍA; ANA S. BARREIRA; PABLO D. LAVINIA; PABLO L. TUBARO

Congreso; Evolution meeting; 2015

The increasing availability of molecular phylogenies has brought awareness of the fact that genotype and phenotype patterns of diversification, particularly below the level of species, are not always congruent. This has lead to a widespread idea that traditional classification based on phenotype should be re-assesed. We compared the patterns of diversification in genotype and phenotype in the Blue-black Grosbeak (Cyanocompsa cyanoides), a Neotropical songbird that has four subspecies. Neotropical avifauna is under-represented in studies of this kind, therefore general ideas on avian diversification, such as that the subspecies concept may be useless, are based on biased information. We found that variation in phenotype and genotype are quite congruent between the four subspecies of this species: the group that is more differentiated in genotype, C. c. rothschildii, is also strongly differentiated from the other subspecies in body size, plumage coloration and song, and it should probably be considered as a different species. Of the other three subspecies, two do not show genetic differentiation but do differ in body size and plumage coloration. Song is the one that shows the most similar pattern of variation to that of genotype, showing no differences between the two subspecies that constitute a unique genetic clade. Lack of complete congruence between both sources of information (phenotypic and neutral molecular markers) is expected, since they are subject to different evolutionary processes. The partial congruence we found between phenotype and genotype shows that traditional classification based on phenotype carries valuable information on diversification and variation below the level of species.