Song divergence indicates an unclear relationship between the Neotropical and Nearctic Horned Larks

• Main Authors: Vargas-Puentes, Jimmy Alexander, Arias-Sosa, Luis Alejandro, Ramos-Montaño, Carolina
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: figshare 2021
• Subjects: Genetics; FOS Biological sciences; Eremophila alpestris
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.5391307; https://springernature.figshare.com/collections/Song_divergence_indicates_an_unclear_relationship_between_the_Neotropical_and_Nearctic_Horned_Larks/5391307

Abstract Background Some studies have indicated that the Horned Larks (Eremophila alpestris) should be considered as a species complex. Recently it split into four species or clades and seven subclades based on genetic, morphological, and biogeographic data. However, other aspects like song divergence have not been studied and several subspecies have not been evaluated, leading to important information gaps in this group of birds. In this work, we aimed to assess the differences in song traits and playback response between the Nearctic subclade and the Neotropical or Colombian subspecies E. a. peregrina. Methods We compared six song traits between these groups and performed field playback experiments, to test the response of the Neotropical larks to both songs. We tested the difference in the variables for separate as well as by principal component analysis (PCA). Results We found significant differences (p