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Cryptic diversity and conservation units in the Bahama parrot

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Abstract

Wide application of genetic approaches has enhanced the detection of cryptic diversity, even in historically well-studied organisms. In addition to improving our knowledge of biodiversity, detection of cryptic diversity can have important management implications within imperiled groups, such as the Cuban parrot complex (Amazona leucocephala). Bahama parrots (A. l. bahamensis) were once widespread throughout the archipelago, but are now restricted to the two largest islands (Abaco and Inagua). Mitochondrial DNA-based population genetic and phylogenetic analyses revealed the distinctiveness of the Abaco, Inagua and now extirpated Acklins populations, detecting diagnostic character support and reciprocal monophyly indicative of three phylogenetic species. Congruent results were obtained for the Abaco and Inagua populations based on Bayesian clustering analyses of microsatellite genotypic data. Genetic signatures of demographic contraction were identified on Abaco, but not Inagua. These findings were consistent with lower genetics-based estimates of effective population size on Abaco, as well as the disproportionate human impacts reported on the island relative to Inagua. Overall, our results suggest that the taxonomy of the Cuban parrot complex requires revision and that the conservation status of the Abaco phylogenetic species should be immediately elevated to reflect its historical isolation, recent population decline and continued threats to its persistence.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to The Bahamas National Trust, Friends of the Environment (Abaco), and The Bahamas Marine Mammal Survey for their support of this work. Amy Raybuck, Victor Schmidt, Gina Mori, Alice Davey, Leno Davis, Ulla Kail, Pedro, Chris DeRuyck, and Pam Church provided invaluable assistance in the field. Mary Ann Olson aided in data collection and commented on the manuscript. We thank the curators and curatorial assistants at the American Museum of Natural History, Carnegie Museum of Natural History and Museum of Comparative Zoology for providing tissue and access to their collections. We further acknowledge Patricia Ottens-Wainright for sharing samples from her previous study. This work was funded by The Nature Conservancy (CS), The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (MR), and The University of British Columbia Okanagan through the Irving K. Barber School of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research Award (DL, MR).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, University of British Columbia Okanagan, 3333 University Way, Kelowna, BC, V1V 1V7, Canada

    M. A. Russello & D. Lalonde

  2. Centre for Species at Risk and Habitat Studies, University of British Columbia Okanagan, 3333 University Way, Kelowna, BC, V1V 1V7, Canada

    M. A. Russello & D. Lalonde

  3. Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA

    C. Stahala

  4. Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics, American Museum of Natural History, 79th Street at Central Park West, New York, NY, 10024, USA

    K. L. Schmidt & G. Amato

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  1. M. A. Russello
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Russello, M.A., Stahala, C., Lalonde, D. et al. Cryptic diversity and conservation units in the Bahama parrot. Conserv Genet 11, 1809–1821 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-010-0074-z

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