So similar and yet so different: taxonomic status of Pallid Swift Apus pallidus and Common Swift Apus apus

• Main Authors: Pellegrino, Irene, Cucco, Marco, Harvey, Johanna A., Liberatore, Federica, Pavia, Marco, Voelker, Gary, Boano, Giovanni
• Format: Dataset
• Language: unknown
• Published: Taylor & Francis 2017
• Subjects: Cell Biology; Genetics; FOS Biological sciences; Evolutionary Biology; 59999 Environmental Sciences not elsewhere classified; FOS Earth and related environmental sciences; Ecology; Marine Biology; Inorganic Chemistry; FOS Chemical sciences; Plant Biology; Apus apus
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.5354122.v1; https://tandf.figshare.com/articles/dataset/So_similar_and_yet_so_different_taxonomic_status_of_Pallid_Swift_i_Apus_pallidus_i_and_Common_Swift_i_Apus_apus_i_/5354122/1

Capsule: Common Swift Apus apus and Pallid Swift Apus Pallidus are morphologically very similar but are genetically distinct and diverged 1.9–2.1 million years ago (mya). Aims: To examine genetic differentiation and to estimate separation time between Common and Pallid Swifts. Methods: Estimation of differences in three different mitochondrial DNA markers ( COI , ND2 and control region), and a fourth marker, the cytb , that did not differ between taxa. Fossils were used to calibrate the estimate of separation date between the two taxa. Results: The genetic between-species distances were 0.010, 0.006 and 0.033 for the three markers, respectively. These values were from three to ten times higher than within-species distances. Results show that the separation dates back to 1.9–2.1 mya, at the Plio-Pleistocene transition, when global climate underwent a period of significant cooling and Northern latitudes were probably more favourable to the Common than to the Pallid Swift. Conclusion: Differences in breeding biology, migration, moult and vocalizations between the two species are mirrored by a clear genetic separation.