Evidence from DNA nucleotide sequences and ISSR profiles indicates paraphyly in subspecies of the Southern Grey Shrike (Lanius meridionalis)

Abstract

We obtained DNA sequence data from mitochondrial (cytochrome b) and nuclear genes (myoglobin and ornithine decarboxylase) to reconstruct the phylogenetic relationships among eight species of shrikes (Lanius). Phylogenetic analyses based on maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference all converged into a congruent topology and defined several well-supported clades. Our multi-gene approach based on nucleotide sequences from fast-evolving and conserved genes strongly supported the paraphyly of Southern Grey Shrikes (Lanius meridionalis). The Canary Islands subspecies (L. m. koenigi) differed significantly from its European counterpart (L. m. meridionalis). Furthermore, the genetic distinctiveness of L. m. koenigi was confirmed by ISSR genomic fingerprinting. By contrast, we did not find evidence to distinguish the Canarian Southern Grey Shrike from L. m. algeriensis on the African mainland (Tunisia), and therefore these two taxa may be considered as synonymous. Together, they correspond to a separate species. The origin of the taxa investigated in this study might have originated about 6 Mya at the Miocene/Pliocene boundary when a remarkable worldwide faunal turnover and global vegetation change occurred. The Lanius genus represents a complex and taxonomically challenging group that requires additional research.