UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations 1-1-2006 Molecular phylogenetics of Trogon: Exploring patterns of diversification in a widespread neotropical avian genus Jeffrey M DaCosta University of Nevada, Las Vegas Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/rtds Repository Citation DaCosta, Jeffrey M, "Molecular phylogenetics of Trogon: Exploring patterns of diversification in a widespread neotropical avian genus" (2006). UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations. 2047. http://dx.doi.org/10.25669/p3ej-ymii This Thesis is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by Digital Scholarship@UNLV with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Thesis in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s) directly, unless additional rights are indicated by a Creative Commons license in the record and/ or on the work itself. This Thesis has been accepted for inclusion in UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Scholarship@UNLV. For more information, please contact [email protected]. MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS OF TROGON: EXPLORING PATTERNS OF DIVERSIFICATION IN A WIDESPREAD NEOTROPICAL AVIAN GENUS by Jeffrey M. DaCosta Bachelor of Science University of Massachusetts, Amherst 1998 A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Science Degree In Biological Sciences School of Life Sciences College of Sciences Graduate College University of Nevada, Las Vegas December 2006 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. UMI Number: 1441704 INFORMATION TO USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleed-through, substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely affect reproduction. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if unauthorized copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. UMI UMI Microform 1441704 Copyright 2007 by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. ProQuest Information and Learning Company 300 North Zeeb Road P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Copyright by Jeffrey M. DaCosta 2007 AH Rights Reserved Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Thesis Approval The Graduate College University of Nevada, Las Vegas O c to b e r 19 20 06 The Thesis prepared by Jeffrey M. DaCosta Entitled Molecular Phylogenetics of Trogon: exploring patterns of diversification in a widespread Neotropical avian genus is approved in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Biological Sciences / Examination Committee Co-Chair E x a m in a ti^ Committee Char, Dean o f the Graduate College a. xamination Committee Member Examination Committee Member ________ Graduate College Facidty Representative 11 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT Molecular Phylegenetic of Trogon: Exploring Patterns of Diversification in a Widespread Neotropical Avian Genus by Jeffrey M. DaCosta Dr. Brett R. Riddle, Examination Committee Co-chair Professor of Biology University of Nevada, Las Vegas Dr. John Klicka, Examination Committee Co-chair Adjunct Faculty of Biology University of Nevada, Las Vegas Study of Neotropical avian biodiversity have generally been focused on South American taxa. As a result, the contribution of Central America to overall Neotropical diversity remains under-studied. The Great American Interchange (GAI) between North and South America is a biogeographic event known to impact biodiversity throughout the Neotropics, linking the evolutionary history of these land masses. Here I show that genetic diversity in the well-known and widespread Neotropical avian genus Trogon greatly exceeds previously recognized biodiversity in this group. Results also invoke a Central American center of origin for the genus, with multiple independent dispersals into and subsequent diversification within South America. This has created non- monophyly in the current taxonomy, which has been masked by the use of misleading plumage characters in historical classification of the genus. Ill Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Recovered patterns can be used in comparative studies with other Neotropical groups, providing insights into the evolutionary past of this diversity rich region. IV Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT......................................................................................................................iii LIST OF TABLES........................................................................................................... vl LIST OF FIGURES.......................................................................................................vli CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION...................................................................................1 Literature Cited ..........................................................................................................3 CHAPTER 2 THE GREAT AMERICAN INTERCHANGE IN BIRDS: A PHYLOGENETIC PERSPECTIVE WITH THE GENUS TROGON................................................................................................5 Introduction .................................................................................................................5 Materials and Methods ............................................................................................ 8 R esults ..................................................................................................................... 12 Discussion ............................................................................................................... 15 Literature Cited ........................................................................................................19 Figure Legends ........................................................................................................31 CHAPTER 3 THE PHYLOGENETIC UTILITY OF PROMINENT EXTERNAL MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERS IN TROGON.........................42 Introduction .............................................................................................................. 42 Materials and Methods .......................................................................................... 44 R esults .....................................................................................................................45 Discussion ............................................................................................................... 47 Literature Cited ....................................................................................................... 49 Figure Legends ........................................................................................................56 VITA................................................................................................................................ 60 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. LIST OF TABLES Table 2.1 Genetic samples used in the study ........................................................24 Table 2.2 Date estimations for nodes representing dispersal from Central to South America .........................................................................................30 Table 3.1 Data matrix of Trogon characters ........................................................... 52 Table 3.2 Character reconstruction for Trogon common ancestor ......................54 Table 3.3 Summary statistics of data matrix .......................................................... 55 VI Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. LIST OF FIGURES Figure 2.1 Bayesian phylogeny of the complete dataset ...................................... 33 Figure 2.2 Bayesian phylogeny of the truncated dataset ..................................... 35 Figure 2.3 Detailed biogeographic patterns in the A) violaceus, B) viridis, C) melanurus, D) rufus, and E) collaris clades ........................................36 Figure 2.4 Area cladogram of Trogon under parsimony (A) and stochastic (B) m odels ..................................................................................................... 41 Figure 3.1 Maximum likelihood phylogeny of Trogon genetic diversity ............. 57 Figure 3.2 Ancestral character reconstruction for male head color (A) and orbital ring color (B) ................................................................................ 58 VII Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION The avian order Trogoniformes is comprised of a single family, Trogonidae. Members of the