We describe a new species of Zosterops white‐eye, which is restricted to Wangi‐wangi, a single island of roughly 155 km2 in the Wakatobi Archipelago, Indonesia. Informally known as the Wangi‐wangi White‐eye, the new species is highly... more
We describe a new species of Zosterops white‐eye, which is restricted to Wangi‐wangi, a single island of roughly 155 km2 in the Wakatobi Archipelago, Indonesia. Informally known as the Wangi‐wangi White‐eye, the new species is highly distinct both morphologically and genetically. It is considerably larger in body and bill size compared with other regional Zosterops species. The Wangi‐wangi White‐eye remains locally common but its habitat is dwindling. Given its minute area of occupancy and the threat from the bird trade, we recommend the IUCN status Endangered.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Crescent-chested Babbler is endemic to the island of Java and Bali, Indonesia and protected by the Indonesian Government Regulation No. 7/ 1999. Its population is suspected to be declining due to ongoing habitat destruction and... more
Crescent-chested Babbler is endemic to the island of Java and Bali, Indonesia and protected by the Indonesian Government Regulation No. 7/ 1999. Its population is suspected to be declining due to ongoing habitat destruction and fragmentation. Information on its eco-biology is very poorly known. There is a need to obtain the information in order to conserve this species and its habitat. Morphometric and molt stages were recorded from 23 individuals captured by mist-nets between February and April 2016. There were variations in morphometric measurement in weight, head bill length, wing length and tail length in Cisarua Forest habitat, but no significant difference was found (F2.19 = 0.822, P> 0.05) in body weight among the three different habitats. This habitat has sufficient resource for Crescent-crested Babbler for molt activity during the study.
Research Interests:
Tesso Nilo area which is located at Riau province covers an area of 188.00 ha. Recently, it is famous because of a sharply increased in encroachment activities for forest conversion, especially for oil palm plantations and village sites.... more
Tesso Nilo area which is located at Riau province covers an area of 188.00 ha. Recently, it is famous because of a sharply increased in encroachment activities for forest conversion, especially for oil palm plantations and village sites. It was conducted in logged forest around Segati river, Toro river, Mamahan river and Sawan river in June 2003. The results showed that the area had the high richness of plant species which was indicated by the high value of Mennhenick index. Records from the 1 ha studied plot identified a total of 360 species included 165 genera and 57 families with 215 tree species 305 sapling species. Some important tree species which were included in the Red List of IUCN were ‘gaharu’ (Aquilaria malaccensis), ‘ramin’ (Gonystylus bancanus), Shorea spp. and Dipterocarpus spp. The local community utilized 83 species of medicinal plants and 4 species of toxic plants for fishing. The total number of recorded bird species was 114 species represented 29% of the ...
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Birds react differently to adapt to land-use changes. One of the reactions is the formation of fault bars, which is a malformation during feather growth. Fault bars in birds’ feathers may be used as indicator of environmental quality.... more
Birds react differently to adapt to land-use changes. One of the reactions is the formation of fault bars, which is a malformation during feather growth. Fault bars in birds’ feathers may be used as indicator of environmental quality. This study examines the occurrence of fault bars in four different land uses in Jambi Province, Sumatra: secondary forest, jungle rubber, rubber plantation and oil palm plantation. Mistnetting was conducted during April-June 2014 in regions near to the Harapan Rainforest Landscape and the Bukit Duabelas National Park. A total of 90 and 145 birds were caught and examined for fault bars in Harapan Rainforest Landscape and Bukit Duabelas National Park Landscape, respectively. In the Harapan Rainforest Landscape, the highest occurrence of fault bars (score 3) was found in the secondary forest (53.5%) and oil palm (50%), whereas in Bukit Duabelas National Park Landscape, the highest occurrence of fault bars (score 3) was found in rubber plantation (43.8%) a...
Research Interests:
Background Automated sound recorders are a popular sampling tool in ecology. However, the microphones themselves received little attention so far, and specifications that determine the recordings’ sound quality are seldom mentioned. Here,... more
Background Automated sound recorders are a popular sampling tool in ecology. However, the microphones themselves received little attention so far, and specifications that determine the recordings’ sound quality are seldom mentioned. Here, we demonstrate the importance of microphone signal-to-noise ratio for sampling sonant animals. Methods We tested 12 different microphone models in the field and measured their signal-to-noise ratios and detection ranges. We also measured the vocalisation activity of birds and bats that they recorded, the bird species richness, the bat call types richness, as well as the performance of automated detection of bird and bat calls. We tested the relationship of each one of these measures with signal-to-noise ratio in statistical models. Results Microphone signal-to-noise ratio positively affects the sound detection space areas, which increased by a factor of 1.7 for audible sound, and 10 for ultrasound, from the lowest to the highest signal-to-noise rat...
Research Interests:
Finding new speciesThousands of species have been described, and, although most may agree that many thousand remain undiscovered, identifying new taxa of charismatic vertebrates, like birds, is rare. Rheindtet al.describe five new... more
Finding new speciesThousands of species have been described, and, although most may agree that many thousand remain undiscovered, identifying new taxa of charismatic vertebrates, like birds, is rare. Rheindtet al.describe five new songbird species and five new subspecies found on a single small island near Sulawesi, Indonesia, over a single 6-week expedition (see the Perspective by Kennedy and Fjeldså). They targeted the area because of its geological history and complexity and the historical notes of other explorers. They argue that similar approaches in other regions could also lead to the discovery of new species.Science, this issue p.167; see also p.140
Research Interests:
The use of different tools to achieve a single goal is considered unique to human and primate technology. To unravel the origins of such complex behaviors, it is crucial to investigate tool use that is not necessary for a species'... more
The use of different tools to achieve a single goal is considered unique to human and primate technology. To unravel the origins of such complex behaviors, it is crucial to investigate tool use that is not necessary for a species' survival. These cases can be assumed to have emerged innovatively and be applied flexibly, thus emphasizing creativity and intelligence. However, it is intrinsically challenging to record tool innovations in natural settings that do not occur species-wide. Here, we report the discovery of two distinct tool manufacture methods and the use of tool sets in wild Goffin's cockatoos (Cacatua goffiniana). Up to three types of wooden tools, differing in their physical properties and each serving a different function, were manufactured and employed to extract embedded seed matter of Cerbera manghas. While Goffin's cockatoos do not depend on tool-obtained resources, repeated observations of two temporarily captive wild birds and indications from free-ranging individuals suggest this behavior occurs in the wild, albeit not species-wide. The use of a tool set in a non-primate implies convergent evolution of advanced tool use. Furthermore, these observations demonstrate how a species without hands can achieve dexterity in a high-precision task. The presence of flexible use and manufacture of tool sets in animals distantly related to humans significantly diversifies the phylogenetic landscape of technology and opens multiple avenues for future research. VIDEO ABSTRACT.
Research Interests:
Urgent conservation action for terminally endangered species is sometimes hampered by taxonomic uncertainty, especially in illegally traded animals that are often cross‐bred in captivity. To overcome these problems, we used a genomic... more
Urgent conservation action for terminally endangered species is sometimes hampered by taxonomic uncertainty, especially in illegally traded animals that are often cross‐bred in captivity. To overcome these problems, we used a genomic approach to analyze historical DNA from museum samples across the Asian Pied Starling (Gracupica contra) complex in tropical Asia, a popular victim of the ongoing songbird crisis whose distinct Javan population (“Javan Pied Starling”) is extinct in the wild and subject to admixture in captivity. Comparing genomic profiles across the entire distribution, we detected three deeply diverged lineages at the species level characterized by a lack of genomic intermediacy near areas of contact. Our study demonstrates that the use of historical DNA can be instrumental in delimiting species in situations of taxonomic uncertainty, especially when modern admixture may obfuscate species boundaries. Results of our research will enable conservationists to commence a de...
Research Interests:
Wallacean region, which covers Sulawesi and its satellite islands, Lesser Sunda islands, and Maluku islands, has the richest endemic birds. It contributes 70.1% (366 out of 510) of the total Indonesian endemic bird species. Sulawesi and... more
Wallacean region, which covers Sulawesi and its satellite islands, Lesser Sunda islands, and Maluku islands, has the richest endemic birds. It contributes 70.1% (366 out of 510) of the total Indonesian endemic bird species. Sulawesi and its satellite islands have the highest number of endemic species (150) followed by the Lesser Sunda Islands (126) and Maluku islands (90). On the other hand, many species in the region are threatened. The number of critically endangered (CR) and endangered (EN) in Sulawesi (7 and 10 species) is higher than Maluku (2 and 4 species) or Lesser Sunda (1 and 6 species). There are two types of threats: direct and indirect threats. Direct threats can be caused by the biological character of the species such as low reproductive rate, long-term parental care; high utilization i.e. hunt (egg, nestling, adult): consumption, trade (pet, hobbies and other uses); and natural predation. Indirect threats include habitat loss, fragmented forest, land conversion, and ...
Research Interests:
This study examines conservation effects of wildlife trade using demand and supply data from caged-bird markets in Sumatra, Indonesia. When consumers have a strong preference for species rarity, trade could result in wildlife... more
This study examines conservation effects of wildlife trade using demand and supply data from caged-bird markets in Sumatra, Indonesia. When consumers have a strong preference for species rarity, trade could result in wildlife overexploitation and species extinction. Results from a choice experiment show that buyers of caged birds indeed value species rarity. However, not all rare species are equally preferred. Species that are frequently traded lose their rarity value, even if rare in the wild. Analysis of time-series data collected from traders over a period of 20 months between 2013 and 2015 reveals an inelastic supply function for rare species, with market arrivals being insensitive to price changes. This may be due to a declining stock of rare species in the wild. Bird trade together with habitat loss can lead to extinction of a number of rare species in Indonesia. Several policy approaches on regulating caged-bird markets are discussed.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Leaf warblers (Aves; Phylloscopidae) are a diverse clade of insectivorous, canopy-dwelling songbirds widespread across the Old World. The taxonomy of Australasian leaf warblers is particularly complex, with multiple species-level... more
Leaf warblers (Aves; Phylloscopidae) are a diverse clade of insectivorous, canopy-dwelling songbirds widespread across the Old World. The taxonomy of Australasian leaf warblers is particularly complex, with multiple species-level divergences between island taxa in the region requiring further scrutiny. We use a combination of morphology, bioacoustics, and analysis of thousands of genome-wide markers to investigate and describe a new species of Phylloscopus leaf warbler from the island of Rote in the Lesser Sundas, Indonesia. We show that this new Rote Leaf Warbler is morphologically and genomically highly distinct from its congenerics, but do not find vocal differentiation between different island taxa. We discuss the behaviour and ecology of this highly distinctive new species, and make recommendations about its conservation status. We believe this constitutes the first description of a novel bird species that is partly based on insights from massive amounts of genome-wide DNA mark...
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
The Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher species‐complex of South and Southeast Asia comprises two forms, the dark‐backed Ceyx erithaca of India and Indochina and the rufous‐backed Ceyx rufidorsa of Java and the Lesser Sunda Islands. Between these... more
The Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher species‐complex of South and Southeast Asia comprises two forms, the dark‐backed Ceyx erithaca of India and Indochina and the rufous‐backed Ceyx rufidorsa of Java and the Lesser Sunda Islands. Between these two extremes, the large area of Sundaland and the Philippines is occupied by individuals that have a rufous back, characteristic of C. rufidorsa, but exhibit a range of phenotypes that are intermediate between C. erithaca and C. rufidorsa. These potential intermediates have intrigued avian taxonomists for generations. To investigate the species dynamics of the two forms and understand the demographic history of the intermediates, we generated a genome‐scale dataset (ddRAD) representing multiple individuals across the entire range of the complex. Our findings support the distinctiveness of the two forms based on back colour. Demographic analysis suggests the two populations were isolated c. 820 000 years ago followed by secondary contact c. 140 000 ye...
Research Interests:
The ability to innovate, i.e., to exhibit new or modified learned behaviours, can facilitate adaptation to environmental changes or exploiting novel resources. We hereby introduce a comparative approach for studying innovation rate, the... more
The ability to innovate, i.e., to exhibit new or modified learned behaviours, can facilitate adaptation to environmental changes or exploiting novel resources. We hereby introduce a comparative approach for studying innovation rate, the ‘Innovation Arena’ (IA), featuring the simultaneous presentation of 20 interchangeable tasks, which subjects encounter repeatedly. The new design allows for the experimental study of innovation per time unit and for uncovering group-specific problem-solving abilities – an important feature for comparing animals with different predispositions and life histories. We applied the IA for the first time to investigate how long-term captivity affects innovative capacities in the Goffin’s cockatoo, an avian model species for animal innovation. We found that fewer temporarily-captive wild birds are inclined to consistently interact with the apparatus in comparison to laboratory-raised birds. However, those that are interested solve a similar number of tasks a...
Research Interests:
To help resolve phylogenetic and phylogeographic relationships of Southeast Asian birds, we have collected specimens in Borneo, Sumatra, and Java for phylogenetic and morphological study. Here, we compare mitochondrial ND2 gene sequences... more
To help resolve phylogenetic and phylogeographic relationships of Southeast Asian birds, we have collected specimens in Borneo, Sumatra, and Java for phylogenetic and morphological study. Here, we compare mitochondrial ND2 gene sequences from some of these new specimens to sequences obtained in previous studies to shed light on genealogical relationships in nine passerine clades: Erythropitta venusta/granatina/ussheri (pittas); Dicrurus hottentottus (drongos); Alophoixus bulbuls; Napothera, Turdinus and Pellorneum babblers; Anthipes flycatchers; Brachypteryx shortwings; and Myophonus whistling thrushes. These comparisons resolve or shed substantial light on taxonomic problems in pittas, Alophoixus, Napothera, Dicrurus, Brachypteryx, and Myophonus, and they confirm assumed (but previously unquantified) genetic relationships within Turdinus and Anthipes. The resulting trees also allow us to (1) suggest improved taxonomic arrangements in several groups, (2) confirm the rediscovery of a “lost” species within Napothera, and (3) provide the basis for the description of a new subspecies of Alophoixus.
Research Interests:
Experimental work on captive Goffin’s cockatoos (Cacatua goffiniana) has highlighted the remarkable cognitive abilities of this species. However, little is known about its behavior in the natural habitat on the Tanimbar Archipelago in... more
Experimental work on captive Goffin’s cockatoos (Cacatua goffiniana) has highlighted the remarkable cognitive abilities of this species. However, little is known about its behavior in the natural habitat on the Tanimbar Archipelago in Indonesia. In order to fully understand the evolutionary roots leading to cognitively advanced skills, such as multi-step problem solving or flexible tool use and manufacture, it is crucial to study the ecological challenges faced by the respective species in the wild. The three-month expedition presented here aimed at gaining first insights into the cockatoos’ feeding ecology and breeding behavior. We could confirm previous predictions that Goffin’s cockatoos are opportunistic foragers and consume a variety of resources (seeds, fruit, inflorescence, roots). Their breeding season may be estimated to start between June and early July and they face potential predation from ground and aerial predators. Additionally, the observational data provide indicati...
Research Interests:
When tested under laboratory conditions, Goffin’s cockatoos (Cacatua goffiniana) demonstrate numerous sophisticated cognitive skills. Most importantly, this species has shown the ability to manufacture and use tools. However, little is... more
When tested under laboratory conditions, Goffin’s cockatoos (Cacatua goffiniana) demonstrate numerous sophisticated cognitive skills. Most importantly, this species has shown the ability to manufacture and use tools. However, little is known about the ecology of these cockatoos, endemic to the Tanimbar Islands in Indonesia. Here we provide first insights into the feeding- and socio-ecology of the wild Goffin’s cockatoos and propose potential links between their behaviour in natural settings and their advanced problem-solving capacities shown in captivity. Observational data suggests that Goffin’s cockatoos rely on a large variety of partially seasonal resources. Furthermore, several food types require different extraction techniques. These ecological and behavioural characteristics fall in line with current hypotheses regarding the evolution of complex cognition and innovativeness. We discuss how the efficiency of (extractive) foraging may preclude tool use in wild Goffin’s cockatoo...
Research Interests:
We present morphometric and moult data for the Sulawesi-endemic Dark-eared Myza, based on 35 individuals captured at Lore Lindu National Park, Central Sulawesi, during March–April and July 2011. Four individuals banded in March were... more
We present morphometric and moult data for the Sulawesi-endemic Dark-eared Myza, based on 35 individuals captured at Lore Lindu National Park, Central Sulawesi, during March–April and July 2011. Four individuals banded in March were recaptured at the study site in July, suggesting that the population is probably sedentary. Like most meliphagids, although this species is not sexually dimorphic in plumage, measurements show that males are significantly heavier and have longer wings, tail and head–bill than females. Seven of the 16 adults in March–April and five of the 19 in July were moulting their primary feathers. Assuming that primary moult follows breeding, estimated laying dates for adults in the final stages of moult suggest breeding in December and early April, the latter corroborated by the presence of brood patches on two females in late March. A brood patch on a female in July further suggests that the breeding season is protracted. All birds photographed also showed distinc...
Research Interests:
Untuk mengetahui dinamika komunitas burung di Taman Nasional Gunung Halimun dilakukan pemantauan setiap bulan mulai bulan Januari 2000 sampai Desember 2001.Pemantauan dilakukan di kaki G. Kendeng menggunakan metode tangkap lepas dengan... more
Untuk mengetahui dinamika komunitas burung di Taman Nasional Gunung Halimun dilakukan pemantauan setiap bulan mulai bulan Januari 2000 sampai Desember 2001.Pemantauan dilakukan di kaki G. Kendeng menggunakan metode tangkap lepas dengan jaring kabut yang dipasang di atas tanah dan pada tajuk pohon. Dalam makalah ini disampaikan hasil pengamatan dari periode kedua yang dilakukan mulai Januari sampai Desember 2001.Hasil pengamatan menunjukkan bahwa keragaman jenis burung di tajuk pohon (26 jenis) hampir sama dengan pada permukaan tanah (25 jenis). Sedangkan 12 jenis tercatat dapat dijumpai di tajuk pohon dan pada permukaan tanah.Burung yang sangat umum dijumpai adalah Cinclidium diana dan Ficedula dumetoria diikuti Arachnothera longirostra.Burung yang sangat jarang dijumpai adalah Accipiter trivirgatus Macropygia unchall, Batrachostomus cornutus, Lacedo pulcheila, Iole virescens,Enicurus leschenaulti, Tesia superciliaris, Phylloscopus trivirgatus, Abroscopus superciliaris, Seicercus gr...
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Archipelagoes serve as important ‘natural laboratories’ which facilitate the study of island radiations and contribute to the understanding of evolutionary processes. The white-eye genus Zosterops is a classical example of a ‘great... more
Archipelagoes serve as important ‘natural laboratories’ which facilitate the study of island radiations and contribute to the understanding of evolutionary processes. The white-eye genus Zosterops is a classical example of a ‘great speciator’, comprising c. 100 species from across the Old World, most of them insular. We achieved an extensive geographic DNA sampling of Zosterops by using historical specimens and recently collected samples. Using over 700 genome-wide loci in conjunction with coalescent species tree methods and gene flow detection approaches, we untangled the reticulated evolutionary history of Zosterops, which comprises three main clades centered in Indo-Africa, Asia, and Australasia, respectively. Genetic introgression between species permeates the Zosterops phylogeny, regardless of how distantly related species are. Crucially, we identified the Indonesian archipelago, and specifically Borneo, as the major center of diversity and the only area where all three main cl...
Research Interests:
Indonesia’s many islands, large and small, make it an important center of avian diversity and endemism. Current biogeographic understanding, however, is limited by the lack of modern genetic samples for comparative analyses from most of... more
Indonesia’s many islands, large and small, make it an important center of avian diversity and endemism. Current biogeographic understanding, however, is limited by the lack of modern genetic samples for comparative analyses from most of these islands, and conservation efforts are hampered by the paucity of recent information from small islands peripheral to major, more commonly visited islands. In November and December 2016, we visited Maratua, an oceanic coral atoll 50 km east of Borneo, and Bawean, a volcanic island on the Sunda continental shelf 150 km north of Java, to survey birds and collect specimens for morphological and genetic analysis. We detected many of the birds on Maratua’s historical lists and added several new resident and migratory species. Notably, we did not detect the Maratua White-rumped Shama (Copsychus malabaricus barbouri). On Bawean, we found the forests to be nearly silent and detected remarkably few resident land-bird species overall. The sever...
The Lesser Sundas Region continues to be widely unexplored even in such relatively well-known animal groups as birds (Aves). We report the results of an ornithological expedition from November through December 2015 to Timor, Alor and Rote... more
The Lesser Sundas Region continues to be widely unexplored even in such relatively well-known animal groups as birds (Aves). We report the results of an ornithological expedition from November through December 2015 to Timor, Alor and Rote islands along with some opportunistic observations made in that area between 2006 to 2015, providing details on numerous first records of bird species outside their previously known geographic or elevational ranges observed or otherwise recorded during this expedition. Our results underscore the fragmentary nature of our knowledge of the composition of the avifauna of the Lesser Sunda Islands, and demonstrate that there continues to be a large volume of significant new records and range extensions of birds on these islands.
The avifauna of Rote Island in the Lesser Sundas is not well studied and generally considered to be similar to that of adjacent Timor Island. However, some cases of bird endemism have recently been documented on this island. A population... more
The avifauna of Rote Island in the Lesser Sundas is not well studied and generally considered to be similar to that of adjacent Timor Island. However, some cases of bird endemism have recently been documented on this island. A population of Myzomela honeyeater is one such example. First observed in October 1990, it has been subsumed with Myzomela dammermani from Sumba Island given its superficially similar appearance. Based on extensive morphological inspection and bioacoustic analysis, we here describe this population as a new taxon to science. Apart from previously overlooked plumage distinctions, the new taxon bioacoustically differs from M. dammermani in the presence or absence of several unique call types and considerable differences across two parameters in shared call types. Considering the importance of bioacoustics in avian species delimitation, we propose that the new Rote Myzomela be considered a distinct species. Given continued habitat conversion across its small range,...
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Tropical lowland rainforests are threatened by deforestation and degradation worldwide. Relatively little research has investigated the degradation of the forests of South-east Asia and its impact on biodiversity, and even less research... more
Tropical lowland rainforests are threatened by deforestation and degradation worldwide. Relatively little research has investigated the degradation of the forests of South-east Asia and its impact on biodiversity, and even less research has focused on the important peat swamp forests of Indonesia, which experienced major losses through severe fires in 2015. We acoustically sampled the avifauna of the Berbak National Park in 2013 in 12 plots split in three habitats: primary swamp forest, secondary swamp forest, and shrub swamp, respectively representing non-degraded, previously selectively logged, and burned habitats. We analysed the species richness, abundance, vocalisation activity, and community composition across acoustic counts, plots, feeding guilds and IUCN Red List categories. We also analysed community-weighted means of body mass, wing length, and distribution area. The avifauna in the three habitats was remarkably similar in richness, abundance and vocalisation activity, an...
Research Interests:
The leaf warbler radiation (Aves: Phylloscopidae) has undergone a c. 50% increase in the number of recognised species over the last three decades, mainly as a result of analyses of vocalisations and DNA. Using a multilocus dataset for all... more
The leaf warbler radiation (Aves: Phylloscopidae) has undergone a c. 50% increase in the number of recognised species over the last three decades, mainly as a result of analyses of vocalisations and DNA. Using a multilocus dataset for all of the species in this family, and multispecies coalescent-based as well as concatenation methods, we provide the first complete species-level phylogeny for this important group, as well as an estimate of the timing of diversification. The most recent common ancestor for the family was dated at 11.7 million years ago (mya) (95% highest posterior density 9.8-13.7 mya), and divergence times between sister species ranged from 0.5 mya (0.3-0.8 mya) to 6.1 mya (4.8-7.5 mya). Based on our results, we support synonymising Seicercus with Phylloscopus, which results in a monogeneric Phylloscopidae. We discuss the pros and cons of this treatment,and we argue againstproliferation of taxonomic names,and conclude that a large monogeneric Phylloscopidae leads to...
Research Interests:
The mountains of Borneo are well known for their high endemicity and historical role in preserving Southeast Asian rainforest biodiversity, but the diversification of populations inhabiting these mountains is poorly studied. Here we... more
The mountains of Borneo are well known for their high endemicity and historical role in preserving Southeast Asian rainforest biodiversity, but the diversification of populations inhabiting these mountains is poorly studied. Here we examine the genetic structure of 12 Bornean montane passerines by comparing complete mtDNA ND2 gene sequences of populations spanning the island. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian phylogenetic trees and haplotype networks are examined for common patterns that might signal important historical events or boundaries to dispersal. Morphological and ecological characteristics of each species are also examined using phylogenetic generalized least-squares (PGLS) for correlation with population structure. Populations in only four of the 12 species are subdivided into distinct clades or haplotype groups. Although this subdivision occurred at about the same time in each species (ca. 0.6-0.7 Ma), the spatial positioning of the genetic break differs among the species....
Research Interests:
The role of Pleistocene Ice Age in tropical diversification is poorly understood, especially in archipelagos, in which glaciation-induced sea level fluctuations may lead to complicated changes in land distribution. To assess how... more
The role of Pleistocene Ice Age in tropical diversification is poorly understood, especially in archipelagos, in which glaciation-induced sea level fluctuations may lead to complicated changes in land distribution. To assess how Pleistocene land bridges may have facilitated gene flow in tropical archipelagos, we investigated patterns of diversification in the rarely-collected rusty-bellied fantail Rhipidura teysmanni (Passeriformes: Rhipiduridae) complex from Wallacea using a combination of bioacoustic traits and whole-genome sequencing methods (dd-RADSeq). We report a biogeographic leapfrog pattern in the vocalizations of these birds, and uncover deep genomic divergence among island populations despite the presence of intermittent land connections between some. We demonstrate how rare instances of genetic introgression have affected the evolution of this species complex, and document the presence of double introgressive mitochondrial sweeps, highlighting the dangers of using only m...
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
The trade in wild animals involves one-third of the... more
The trade in wild animals involves one-third of the world's bird species and thousands of other vertebrate species. Although a few species are imperiled as a result of the wildlife trade, the lack of field studies makes it difficult to gauge how serious a threat it is to biodiversity. We used data on changes in bird abundances across space and time and information from trapper interviews to evaluate the effects of trapping wild birds for the pet trade in Sumatra, Indonesia. To analyze changes in bird abundance over time, we used data gathered over 14 years of repeated bird surveys in a 900-ha forest in southern Sumatra. In northern Sumatra, we surveyed birds along a gradient of trapping accessibility, from the edge of roads to 5 km into the forest interior. We interviewed 49 bird trappers in northern Sumatra to learn which species they targeted and how far they went into the forest to trap. We used prices from Sumatran bird markets as a proxy for demand and, therefore, trapping pressure. Market price was a significant predictor of species declines over time in southern Sumatra (e.g., given a market price increase of approximately $50, the log change in abundance per year decreased by 0.06 on average). This result indicates a link between the market-based pet trade and community-wide species declines. In northern Sumatra, price and change in abundance were not related to remoteness (distance from the nearest road). However, based on our field surveys, high-value species were rare or absent across this region. The median maximum distance trappers went into the forest each day was 5.0 km. This suggests that trapping has depleted bird populations across our remoteness gradient. We found that less than half of Sumatra's remaining forests are >5 km from a major road. Our results suggest that trapping for the pet trade threatens birds in Sumatra. Given the popularity of pet birds across Southeast Asia, additional studies are urgently needed to determine the extent and magnitude of the threat posed by the pet trade.