1. New distributional records of the Blue-faced Parrotfinch (Erythrura trichroa) in the Solomon Islands
- Author
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Douglas Pikacha, David Boseto, Joseph Waihuru, L. Abraham Sirikolo, Michael J. Andersen, Robert G. Moyle, Xena M. Mapel, Luke C. Campillo, Jenna M. McCullough, Luke B. Klicka, Edgar Pollard, Reuben Tako, Ikuo G. Tigulu, and Lucas H. DeCicco
- Subjects
0106 biological sciences ,Ecology ,Pleistocene ,biology ,Biogeography ,Similar distribution ,Biodiversity ,biology.organism_classification ,010603 evolutionary biology ,01 natural sciences ,010605 ornithology ,Geography ,Data sequences ,Plumage ,Animal Science and Zoology ,Parrotfinch ,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics ,Erythrura trichroa - Abstract
Despite a long history of biological exploration, there remains much to learn about the avifauna of the Solomon Islands. Here, we report new records of the Blue-faced Parrotfinch (Erythrura trichroa) on Malaita and Makira islands, thus expanding the known distribution of the species in the geographic Solomon Islands to include Bougainville, Kolombangara, Guadalcanal, Malaita, and Makira islands. Morphometric comparison of specimens from these populations showed no consistent differences in plumage or measurements, although sample sizes were small for all populations (n = 1–2 comparable specimens from 3 populations). Likewise, mitochondrial DNA sequence data showed little genetic differentiation among these populations. Our results suggest that the Blue-faced Parrotfinch exhibits some of the lowest interpopulation divergence of any montane bird species in the Solomon Islands and provides useful comparison to biogeographic patterns in other bird populations that share a similar distribution across multiple Pleistocene islands. Our discovery of 2 new populations of Blue-faced Parrotfinches highlights the need for continued biodiversity work in the region for both conservation and research.
- Published
- 2020
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