Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2019
Journal / Book Title
Internationa; Journal of Avian Science
Abstract
Scarlet Macaws Ara macao have the largest geographical distribution of any Neotropical psittacine, occupying a variety of lowland forest habitats from Mexico to Brazil. Two subspecies, Ara macao macao and Ara macao cyanoptera, are currently recognized based on wing chord length and plumage coloration, with formal descriptions suggesting genetic introgression in southern Nicaragua and northern Costa Rica. The present study aimed to investigate the extent of genetic diversification within A. macao by analysing mitochondrial sequence data from contemporary and historical samples. Phylogenetic reconstruction and population aggregation analysis confirmed two distinct phylogeographical groups, with a high degree of intraspecific genetic structure and no evidence of a putative hybrid zone. Whole mitochondrial genome sequencing further confirmed substantial divergence (~ 1.8%) between the cyanoptera and macao lineages. These results demonstrate a separation of A. macao into two distinct evolutionary entities and highlight a non-uniform distribution of intraspecific diversity, suggesting current conservation designations may warrant re-evaluation.
DOI
10.1111/ibi.12760
Montclair State University Digital Commons Citation
Schmidt, Kari L.; Aardema, Matthew; and Amato, George, "Genetic Analysis Reveals Strong Genetic analysis reveals strong phylogeographical divergences within the Scarlet Macaw Ara macao" (2019). Department of Biology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works. 245.
https://digitalcommons.montclair.edu/biology-facpubs/245
Published Citation
Schmidt, K.L., Aardema, M.L. and Amato, G. (2020), Genetic analysis reveals strong phylogeographical divergences within the Scarlet Macaw Ara macao. Ibis, 162: 735-748. https://doi.org/10.1111/ibi.12760
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