Evolutionary and ecological forces influencing population diversification in Bornean montane passerines
2017
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. In two species, northeastern
populations are genetically divergent from populations elsewhere on the island. In the other two species,
populations in the main Bornean mountain chain, including the northeast, are distinct from those on
two isolated peaks in northwestern Borneo. We suggest different historical forces played a role in shaping
these two distributions, despite commonality in timing. PGLS analysis showed that only a single
characteristic—hand-wing index—is correlated with population structure. Birds with longer wings, and
hence potentially more dispersal power, have less population structure. To understand historical forces
influencing montane population structure on Borneo, future studies must compare populations across
the entirety of Sundaland.
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