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Phylogenetic placement of the critically endangered Townsend’s Shearwater (Puffinus auricularis auricularis): evidence for its conspecific status with Newell’s Shearwater (Puffinus a. newelli) and a mismatch between genetic and phenotypic differentiation

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Abstract

Townsend’s Shearwater (Puffinus auricularis auricularis) is a highly threatened bird and currently breeds on Socorro and Clarión Islands, México. This subspecies has minor differences in plumage patterns when compared to Newell’s Shearwater of Hawaii (USA) (Puffinus auricularis newelli). These two forms are recognized as subspecies by the American Ornithologist’s Union. However, some authors consider them as distinct species based on subtle plumage differences and different breeding chronologies. We used Bayesian and Maximum Likelihood methods to compare the cytochrome b and cytochrome oxidase I sequences from Townsend’s Shearwaters with archived mitochondrial sequences from other taxa in the genus Puffinus. Townsend’s and Newell’s Shearwaters show little genetic differentiation; hence, there is no justification to consider them as different species. Additionally, differences in morphology and ecology might be the result of founder effects and phenotypic plasticity; proven migratory potential provides support to the current taxonomic assessment that considers these birds as conspecifics. We recommend the continued treatment of Townsend’s and Newell’s Shearwaters as two subspecies of P. auricularis. We also advocate treating the Rapa Shearwater (P. myrtae) as a distinct species.

Zusammenfassung

Stammesgeschichtliche Einordnung des hochgradig gefährdeten Townsendsturmtauchers ( Puffinus auricularis auricularis ): Nachweis für seinen engen Verwandtschaftsgrad zum Newellsturmtaucher ( Puffinus a. newelli ) und für die Diskrepanz zwischen genetischer und phänotypischer Abgrenzung Der Townsendsturmtaucher ist ein hochgradig gefährdeter Vogel, der derzeit noch auf den Socorro und Clarion-Inseln, Mexiko, brütet. Zum Newellsturmtaucher auf Hawaii (USA) zeigt er nur kleine Unterschiede in der Gefiedermusterung; die beiden sind von der Union Amerikanischer Ornithologen als Unterarten anerkannt. Dennoch betrachten einige Autoren sie aufgrund der Unterschiede im Gefieder und in der Brutabfolge als eigenständige Arten. Wir setzten die Maximum Likelihood-Methode der Bayesschen Wahrscheinlichkeitsrechnung ein, um die Cytochrome b- und die Cytochrome Oxidasen I-Sequenzen miteinander zu vergleichen, die wir einerseits vom Townsendsturmtaucher, andererseits von archiviertem mitochondrialem Material anderer Sturmtaucher-Arten gewonnen und sequenziert hatten. Townsend- und Newellsturmtaucher zeigten nur geringe genetische Unterschiede, weswegen es keine Rechtfertigung dafür gibt, sie als eigene Arten anzusehen. Unterschiede in ihrer Morphologie und Ökologie könnten vom sog. „Gründereffekt“und der phänotypischen Plastizität herrühren; das nachgewiesene Wander- und Ausbreitungspotential unterstützen die derzeitige taxonomische Bewertung, dass es sich hier um zwei Unterarten einer Art handelt. Wir empfehlen, Townsend- und Newellsturmtaucher auch weiterhin als zwei Unterarten von (Puffinus auricularis) zu betrachten. Darüber hinaus plädieren wir dafür, den Rapasturmtaucher (Puffinus myrtae) als eine eigene Art anzusehen.

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Acknowledgments

The Mexican Navy provided generous logistical support that allowed the completion of this study; we particularly thank Admiral F. Jiménez Colorado, Captain D. Castro Castro and naval personnel stationed at Socorro and Clarión Islands. We are sincerely grateful to M. J. Navarro Sánchez, Reserve’s acting director of the Revillagigedo Archipelago Biosphere Reserve, and Lieutenant A. Lechuga Medina, at the Naval Oceanographic Institute, for their invaluable field assistance. We sincerely thank the Administration of the Federal Insular Territory for promoting scientific research on Mexican islands. A. Cavazos provided assistance in data analysis. H. Horblit, J. Cervantes Pasqualli, H. Archer, and an anonymous reviewer provided valuable insights on earlier versions of this manuscript. Funding was provided by the Island Endemics Foundation, the American Bird Conservancy, the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, and the Instituto de Ecología, A.C. (INECOL). This research was conducted under permits DICOPPU/211/2158/10 (SEGOB) and SGPA/DGVS/06778/10 (SEMARNAT) granted to JEMG.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Red de Interacciones Multitróficas, Instituto de Ecología, A. C., Apartado Postal 63, 91000, Xalapa, Veracruz, México

    Juan E. Martínez-Gómez

  2. Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apartado Postal 70-153, 04510, México D.F., México

    Noemí Matías-Ferrer & Patricia Escalante

  3. Endémicos Insulares, A. C., Carretera Xolostla a Rancho Viejo No. 12, San Andrés Tlalnelhuayocan, Veracruz, México

    Noemí Matías-Ferrer

  4. Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA, 94132, USA

    Ravinder N. M. Sehgal

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  1. Juan E. Martínez-Gómez
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  2. Noemí Matías-Ferrer
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  3. Ravinder N. M. Sehgal
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Correspondence to Patricia Escalante.

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Communicated by M. Wink.

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Martínez-Gómez, J.E., Matías-Ferrer, N., Sehgal, R.N.M. et al. Phylogenetic placement of the critically endangered Townsend’s Shearwater (Puffinus auricularis auricularis): evidence for its conspecific status with Newell’s Shearwater (Puffinus a. newelli) and a mismatch between genetic and phenotypic differentiation. J Ornithol 156, 1025–1034 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-015-1189-2

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