Testing models of biological diversification: morphological evolution and cladogenesis in the neotropical furnariidae (Aves: Passeriformes)

In this dissertation I explored the processes that generated high species diversity in a continental adaptive radiation of passerine birds: the family Furnariidae. Although there is a vast amount of information on the microevolutionary mechanisms that generate speciation and adaptation, much less is known about the processes underlying large-scale patterns of diversity. I used new techniques that exploit information contained in phylogenetic trees to investigate the diversification process in Furnariidae at a macroevolutionary scale. First, I conducted the first quantitative study that demonstrated that the Furnariidae constitute a case of rapid diversification in both species numbers and morphology as compared to six closely related families. To evaluate phenotypic diversity, I developed a new multivariate extension of the variance, which I called \u27proper variance\u27, and a new simulation procedure to test for differences in phenotypic diversity when complete phylogenies are not available. I found that the Furnariidae, although not particularly diverse in body size, is unusually diverse in shape. These results support the idea that the Furnariidae constitute a continental adaptive radiation. To explore processes responsible for high species diversity in the Furnariidae, I first investigated the effect of dispersal ability on species proliferation. Assuming that dispersal in birds is highly influenced by flying ability, I used an index of wing shape as a surrogate for flying ability. Using a nearly complete species-level phylogeny of the Furnariidae and a recently developed method, I found a negative correlation between flying ability and speciation rates, suggesting that low dispersal has stimulated species proliferation in Furnariidae. Finally, I investigated the effect of three key innovations on furnariid diversification: adaptations for trunk climbing, spiny-tail morphologies, and skull kinesis. I found that increases in diversification rates are not associated with major morphological changes. In addition, I found that climbing specialization had a negative effect on speciation rates, but that the spiny-tail morphology was positively correlated with speciation rates. These results provide mixed support for a role of key innovations promoting speciation. My results suggest a stronger role of geographic isolation (low dispersal) than ecological opportunities in species diversification in the continental radiation of the Furnariidae

Niche evolution and diversification in a Neotropical radiation of birds (Aves: Furnariidae)

© 2017 The Author(s). Evolution © 2017 The Society for the Study of Evolution. Rapid diversification may be caused by ecological adaptive radiation via niche divergence. In this model, speciation is coupled with niche divergence and lineage diversification is predicted to be correlated with rates of niche evolution. Studies of the role of niche evolution in diversification have generally focused on ecomorphological diversification but climatic-niche evolution may also be important. We tested these alternatives using a phylogeny of 298 species of ovenbirds (Aves: Furnariidae). We found that within Furnariidae, variation in species richness and diversification rates of subclades were best predicted by rate of climatic-niche evolution than ecomorphological evolution. Although both are clearly important, univariate regression and multivariate model averaging more consistently supported the climatic-niche as the best predictor of lineage diversification. Our study adds to the growing body of evidence, suggesting that climatic-niche divergence may be an important driver of rapid diversification in addition to ecomorphological evolution. However, this pattern may depend on the phylogenetic scale at which rate heterogeneity is examined

Distribution, comportement migratoire et conservation du Synallaxe de Hudson Asthenes hudsoni (Furnariidae): un spécialiste des prairies de la pampa humide

Hudson’s Canastero, Asthenes hudsoni (Furnariidae) is a secretive passerine from the Rio de la Plata grasslands of South America. It is considered near threatened, but little is known about its distribution and seasonal movements. We performed a thorough revision of historical and recent records of the species and estimated its original and current geographic distribution using niche modeling based on climatic and land cover information. We found that A. hudsoni is not widespread across the Río de la Plata grasslands but mostly restricted to the humid pampas in Argentina, with isolated populations in central Argentina and SE Brazil. Most records north of the humid pampas in Argentina and Uruguay correspond to wintering individuals, revealing that the species is a partial seasonal migrant. Our distribution models indicate that its original area of occupancy may have been reduced by 65% to a current ~50,000 km², with a stronghold in the flooding Pampas in eastern Buenos Aires province. However, because of the specific microhabitat requirements of the species, we suspect that this figure underestimates the extent of appropriate habitat available, and that A. hudsoni could be very close to the threshold of area of occupancy for vulnerable species under IUCN criteria. Further research on habitat requirements, distribution, and population trends are urgently needed.Le Synallaxe de Hudson, Asthenes hudsoni (Furnariidae) est un passereau discret des prairies du Rio de la Plata en Amérique du Sud. Il est considéré comme quasi menacé, mais on sait peu de choses sur sa répartition et ses mouvements saisonniers. Nous avons effectué une révision complète des enregistrements historiques et récents de l'espèce et estimé sa distribution géographique originale et actuelle en utilisant un modèle de niche basé sur des informations climatiques et de couverture terrestre. Nous avons constaté que A. hudsoni n'est pas répandu dans les prairies du Río de la Plata, mais qu'il est surtout limité à la pampa humide en Argentine, avec des populations isolées dans le centre de l'Argentine et le sud-est du Brésil. La plupart des enregistrements au nord de la pampa humide en Argentine et en Uruguay correspondent à des individus hivernants, ce qui révèle que l'espèce est un migrateur saisonnier partiel. Nos modèles de distribution indiquent que sa zone d'occupation initiale pourrait avoir été réduite de 65% pour atteindre actuellement ~50 000 km², avec un bastion dans les pampas inondées de l'est de la province de Buenos Aires. Cependant, en raison des exigences spécifiques de l'espèce en matière de microhabitat, nous soupçonnons que ce chiffre sous-estime l'étendue de l'habitat approprié disponible et que A. hudsoni pourrait être très proche du seuil de la zone d'occupation des espèces vulnérables selon les critères de l'UICN. Il est urgent de poursuivre les recherches sur les exigences en matière d'habitat, la distribution et les tendances de la population.Fil: Claramunt, Santiago. University of Toronto; Canadá. Royal Ontario Museum; CanadáFil: Aldabe, Joaquín. Manomet Center For Conservation Sciences; Uruguay. Universidad de la Republica; UruguayFil: Etchevers, Ismael. Universidad de la Republica; UruguayFil: Di Giacomo, Adrian Santiago. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Centro de Ecología Aplicada del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Centro de Ecología Aplicada del Litoral; ArgentinaFil: Kopuchian, Cecilia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Centro de Ecología Aplicada del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Centro de Ecología Aplicada del Litoral; ArgentinaFil: Milensky, Christopher M.. National Museum of Natural History; Estados Unido

High dispersal ability inhibits speciation in a continental radiation of passerine birds

Dispersal can stimulate speciation byfacilitating geographical expansion across barriers or inhibit speciation by maintaining gene flow among populations. Therefore, the relationship between dispersal ability and speciation rates can be positive or negative. Furthermore, an \u27intermediate dispersal\u27 model that combines positive and negative effects predicts a unimodal relationship between dispersal and diversification. Because both dispersal ability and speciation rates are difficult to quantify, empirical evidence for the relationship between dispersal and diversification remains scarce. Using a surrogate for flight performance and a species-level DNA-based phylogeny of a large South American bird radiation (the Furnariidae), we found that lineages with higher dispersal ability experienced lower speciation rates. We propose that the degree of fragmentation or permeability of the geographical setting together with the intermediate dispersal model are crucial in reconciling previous, often contradictory findings regarding the relationship between dispersal and diversification. © 2011 The Royal Society

Bloqueo de la articulación metacarpofalángica por osteofito de la cabeza del metacarpiano

Se presenta el caso de una paciente de 79 años de edad que acudió al Servicio de Urgencias de nuestro centro con un bloqueo de la articulación metacarpofalángica (MF) del dedo medio ocasionado por un osteofito en la cara cubital de la cabeza del tercer metacarpiano. El estudio radiológico permitió observar la presencia del osteofito y su extirpación permitió recuperar la normal excursión del ligamento colateral cubital de la art. MF y la extensión completa de la articulación.A 79 years old woman that presented her middle finger metacarpophalangeal joint blocked in flexion because and osteophite on the dorsal-ulnar aspect of the head of the metacarpal is presented. Diagnostic was stablished after radiological study. Resection of the osteophite allowed the ulnar collateral ligament come back to its normal excursion and complete extension of the joint was regained

Los planes de seguimiento en los parques naturales gestionados por la Diputación de Barcelona

El Área de Espacios Naturales de la Diputación de Barcelona gestiona una docena de este tipo de espacios ubicados en el entorno de la región metropolitana de Barcelona, con una superficie protegida de más de cien mil hectáreas. Es necesario un exhaustivo conocimiento de los principales componentes de los sistemas naturales, así como de los procesos y dinámicas que están siguiendo, para poder evaluar adecuadamente la planificación y la gestión de acuerdo con los objetivos de conservación planteados. Para ello se pusieron en marcha, hace ya más de diez años, los programas de seguimiento del medio físico, natural y socioeconómico, con los que pretende detectar y analizar los principales cambios y tendencias en el tiempo. Tras una primera etapa enfocada en la obtención de información básica, en la actualidad se llevan a cabo numerosos proyectos estrechamente vinculados con la gestión, y que tienen una aplicación directa en la política de protección. El presente artículo resume cuatro planes de conservación y seguimiento

Ecological Drivers of Song Evolution in Birds: Disentangling the Effects of Habitat and Morphology

Environmental differences influence the evolutionary divergence of mating signals through selection acting either directly on signal transmission (“sensory drive”) or because morphological adaptation to different foraging niches causes divergence in “magic traits” associated with signal production, thus indirectly driving signal evolution. Sensory drive and magic traits both contribute to variation in signal structure, yet we have limited understanding of the relative role of these direct and indirect processes during signal evolution. Using phylogenetic analyses across 276 species of ovenbirds (Aves: Furnariidae), we compared the extent to which song evolution was related to the direct influence of habitat characteristics and the indirect effect of body size and beak size, two potential magic traits in birds. We find that indirect ecological selection, via diversification in putative magic traits, explains variation in temporal, spectral, and performance features of song. Body size influences song frequency, whereas beak size limits temporal and performance components of song. In comparison, direct ecological selection has weaker and more limited effects on song structure. Our results illustrate the importance of considering multiple deterministic processes in the evolution of mating signals

Lineage diversification and morphological evolution in a large-scale continental radiation: The neotropical ovenbirds and woodcreepers (aves: furnariidae)

Patterns of diversification in species-rich clades provide insight into the processes that generate biological diversity. We tested different models of lineage and phenotypic diversification in an exceptional continental radiation, the ovenbird family Furnariidae, using the most complete species-level phylogenetic hypothesis produced to date for a major avian clade (97% of 293 species). We found that the Furnariidae exhibit nearly constant rates of lineage accumulation but show evidence of constrained morphological evolution. This pattern of sustained high rates of speciation despite limitations on phenotypic evolution contrasts with the results of most previous studies of evolutionary radiations, which have found a pattern of decelerating diversity-dependent lineage accumulation coupled with decelerating or constrained phenotypic evolution. Our results suggest that lineage accumulation in tropical continental radiations may not be as limited by ecological opportunities as in temperate or island radiations. More studies examining patterns of both lineage and phenotypic diversification are needed to understand the often complex tempo and mode of evolutionary radiations on continents. © 2011 The Author(s). Evolution © 2011 The Society for the Study of Evolution