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/whitiicomplex are not well understood. Three taxa formally described as species arenow considered as subspecies (nigrorufa,whitii and wagneri) of a widespread species. The heavier nigrorufa has longer bill, tarsus and wings, is slightly dimorphicwith males showing tawny rufous throat, breast and flanks, and brownish grey upper parts with a slate tinge,while females differ in the orange tinge of ventral parts and in the moreolivaceous upperparts; inhabits shrubby open areas and wetlands with reeds andbulrushes in eastern southern South America, and gives a simple three-notepattern that repeats to form the song and diagnostic calls. The lighter whitii (including wagneri as a synonym) has shorter bill, tarsus and wings, is highlydimorphic with males having dark chestnut throat, breast and flanks, and slateupperparts, while females exhibit tawny paleorange ventral parts, and olivaceous light-brown upper parts; inhabitsclosed to semi-closed xerophytic to semi-humid scrub and woodlands in thewestern highlands, and has a complex multi-noted song and diagnostic calls.Reciprocal playback experiments indicate that both taxa are able todiscriminate each other songs. Locality data and ecological niche modellingshow that nigrorufa and whitii are narrowly allopatric orparapatric in central Córdoba province (Argentina).This integrative evidenceand the ~2.5%divergence in mtDNA show that nigrorufa and whitii posess different Specific MateRecognition Systems and should be afforded full species status under anyspecies concept.