Chapter 8: Phylogeography and Adaptive Plumage Evolution in Central American Subspecies of the Slate-Throated Redstart (Myioborus Miniatus)

Abstract The Slate-throated Redstart (Myioborus miniatus) is a common warbler of montane forests from northern Mexico to Argentina. We examined phylogenetic structure and plumage pattern in relation to subspecific taxonomy across the broad geographic range of this species. Phylogenetic analysis of two complete mitochondrial protein-coding genes (subunits 2 and 3 of NADH dehydrogenase) from 36 individuals, representing 10 of the 12 subspecies, revealed four clades, three of which showed general concordance with subspecific classification. However, in a Central American clade, four subspecies (hellmayri, connectens, comptus, and aurantiacus) could not be resolved by the molecular phylogenetic analysis, even though populations of hellmayri and connectens are currently geographically isolated from those of comptus and aurantiacus by the Nicaraguan lowlands. The genetic homogeneity within this clade suggests a late Pleistocene range expansion at a time when today's montane forest types existed at lower elevati...