Using DNA barcodes to evaluate the level of endemism and isolation in the avifauna of the Central Sierras in Córdoba, Argentina

BUKOWSKI, BELÉN; LAVINIA, PABLO D.; TRUJILLO-ARIAS, NATALIA; KOPUCHIAN, CECILIA; TUBARO, PABLO L.; LIJTMAER, DARÍO A.

Guelph

Congreso; 6th International Barcode of Life Conference; 2015

Background: The Andes mountains constitute one of the main factorspromoting Neotropical diversification, but the role of other highlandsystems has been barely studied. The large, standardized barcodelibrary of the birds of the region provides a unique opportunity fortheir analysis. In this context, we assessed the level of endemismin the avifauna of the Central Sierras in Córdoba, Argentina, to evaluatethe effect of its geographic isolation from the Andes. There are 11 birdspecies that include subspecies endemic to the area, but none of themhave been evaluated using molecular markers. Results: We studied 7of these 11 species by obtaining the barcodes (and in some cases alsocytochrome b sequences) of specimens from the Central Sierras andcomparing them with those of other populations of these species in Argentina. The analysis of genetic divergence and haplotype networks,supported when possible through AMOVAs, indicated that inthree of these species (Cinclodes atacamensis, Catamenia inornata, andPhrygilus unicolor) the population in the Central Sierras is differentiatedfrom those of other regions of Argentina. In three of the remainingspecies (Muscisaxicola rufivertex, Asthenes modesta, and Phrygilusplebejus) there is a varying degree of differentiation, but results werenot conclusive. Finally, there is no differentiation in the case ofSturnella loyca, the only species of this analysis that inhabits both highand low areas and therefore has a continuous distribution betweenthe Central Sierras and the Andes. Significance: While further analysesincluding more molecular markers, morphology, and vocalizationsare needed, some avian species were shown to have populationsin the Central Sierras that are genetically differentiated, and thereforelikely evolutionarily isolated, from other populations of southernSouth America. This clearly illustrates how the use of barcode sequencescan constitute an initial step towards understanding evolutionarypatterns and the processes generating them.