Mate recognition systems and species limits in a warbling-finch complex (Poospiza nigrorufa/whitii)

JORDAN, EMILIO ARIEL; ARETA, JUAN IGNACIO; HOLLZMAN, INGRID

EMU

CSIRO PUBLISHING

Lugar: Collingwood; Año: 2017 vol. 117 p. 344 - 358

0158-4197

Species limits in the Poospiza nigrorufa/whitii complex are not well understood. Three taxa formallydescribed as species are now considered as subspecies (nigrorufa, whitii and wagneri) of a widespreadspecies. The heavier nigrorufa has longer bill, tarsus and wings, is slightly dimorphic withmales showing tawny rufous throat, breast and flanks, and brownish grey upper parts with a slatetinge, while females differ in the orange tinge of ventral parts and in the more olivaceous upperparts; inhabits shrubby open areas and wetlands with reeds and bulrushes in eastern southernSouth America, and gives a simple three-note pattern that repeats to form the song and diagnosticcalls. The lighter whitii (including wagneri as a synonym) has a shorter bill, tarsus and wings, ishighly dimorphic with males having dark chestnut throat, breast and flanks, and slate upper parts,while females exhibit tawny pale-orange ventral parts, and olivaceous light-brown upper parts;inhabits closed to semi-closed xerophytic to semi-humid scrub and woodlands in the westernhighlands, and has a complex multi-noted song and diagnostic calls. Reciprocal playback experimentsindicate that both taxa are able to discriminate each other?s songs. Locality data andecological niche modelling show that nigrorufa and whitii are narrowly allopatric or parapatric incentral Córdoba province (Argentina).This integrative evidence and the ~2.5% divergence inmtDNA show that nigrorufa and whitii possess different Specific Mate Recognition Systems andshould be afforded full species status under any species concept.