Genealogy of Lesser Whitethroat Subspecies (Sylvia Curruca Halimodendri) in Qeshm Island Using a Systematic Molecular Approach

Abstract

The genealogy of songbirds has long been considered. In the present study, the cytb mitochondrial marker was used in one of the southernmost regions of its distribution in Iran to identify the lesser whitethroat subspecies (Sylvia curruca). Comparing the sequences obtained from the Qeshm Island specimens with the Gene Bank, it was found that this array in southern Iran is considered as halimodendri, which ultimately reflects the cladistic status of the lesser whitethroats of Qeshm Island in southern Hormozgan as a study area not established in Iran. Also, with a systematic molecular approach and using genealogical analysis, it was found that this subspecies had two distinct groups and haplotypes with the highest value relative to the index taxa of this species (i.e. curruca). The Qeshm Island specimens were divided into two clades due to genetic distance and phylogenic trees. The results of the study also indicated that these two clades formed in Qeshm Island had major differences, which could be linked to the separation of migration routes and breeding areas in the northern habitats.