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Out of the Bassian province: historical biogeography of the Australasian platycercine parrots (Aves, Psittaciformes)
Author(s) -
SCHWEIZER MANUEL,
GÜNTERT MARCEL,
HERTWIG STEFAN T.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
zoologica scripta
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.204
H-Index - 64
eISSN - 1463-6409
pISSN - 0300-3256
DOI - 10.1111/j.1463-6409.2012.00561.x
Subject(s) - aridification , biogeography , biology , vicariance , ecology , habitat , psittaciformes , habitat fragmentation , arid , phylogeography , zoology , phylogenetic tree , biochemistry , gene
Schweizer, M., Güntert, M. & Hertwig, S. T. (2012). Out of the Bassian province: historical biogeography of the Australasian platycercine parrots (Aves, Psittaciformes). — Zoologica Scripta , 42 , 13–27. Aridification from mid‐Miocene onwards led to a fragmentation of mesic biomes in Australia and an expansion of arid habitats. This influenced the diversification of terrestrial organisms, and the general direction of their radiations is supposed to have been from mesic into drier habitats. We tested this hypothesis in the platycercine parrots that occur in different habitats in Australia and also colonized Pacific islands. We inferred their temporal and spatial diversification patterns using a Bayesian relaxed molecular clock approach based on three nuclear and two mitochondrial genes and model‐based biogeographic reconstructions. The Bassian biota was found to be the centre of origin of platycercine parrots and diversification within two of their three clades coincided with the beginning of aridification of Australia. The associated habitat changes may have catalysed their radiation through adaptation to arid environments and vicariance because of the fragmentation of non‐arid habitats. The small oceanic islands of Melanesia contributed as stepping stones for the colonization of New Zealand from Australia.