title: Rapid and recent diversification of curassows, guans, and chachalacas (Galliformes: Cracidae) out of Mesoamerica: Phylogeny inferred from mitochondrial, intron, and ultraconserved element sequences.
abstract: The Cracidae (curassows, guans, and chachalacas) include some of the most spectacular and endangered Neotropical bird species. They lack a comprehensive phylogenetic hypothesis, hence their geographic origin and the history of their diversification remain unclear. We present a species-level phylogeny of Cracidae inferred from a matrix of 430 ultraconserved elements (UCEs; at least one species sampled per genus) and eight more variable loci (introns and mtDNA; all available species). We use this phylogeny along with probabilistic biogeographic modeling to test whether Gondwanan vicariance, ancient dispersal to South America, ancient dispersal from South America, or massive global cooling isolated cracids in the Neotropics. Contrary to previous estimates that extant cracids diversified in the Cretaceous, our fossil-calibrated divergence time estimates instead support that crown Cracidae originated in the late Miocene. Species-rich genera Crax, Penelope, and Ortalis began diversifying as recently as 3Mya. Biogeographic reconstructions indicate that modern cracids originated in Mesoamerica and were isolated from a widespread Laurasian ancestor, consistent with the massive global cooling hypothesis. Current South American diversity is the result of multiple colonization events following uplift of the Panamanian Isthmus, coupled with rapid diversification and evolution of secondary sympatry. Of the four major cracid lineages (curassows, chachalacas, typical guans, horned guan), the only lineage that has failed to colonize and diversify South America is the unique horned guan (Oreophasis derbianus), which is sister to curassows and chachalacas rather than typical guans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States; Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States. Electronic address: hosner@ufl.edu.
authors.forename: Peter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Hosner
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.
authors.forename: Edward L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Braun
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.
authors.forename: Rebecca T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Kimball
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015852:Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-2 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005580:Fossils / Q000266:history; D046094:Galliformes / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D056426:Genetic Loci; D049690:History, Ancient; D007438:Introns; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000235:genetics*; D025261:Mitochondrial Proton-Translocating ATPases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009245:NADH Dehydrogenase / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010802:Phylogeny; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D015852:Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-2; D009245:NADH Dehydrogenase; C412204:ATP synthase subunit 6; D025261:Mitochondrial Proton-Translocating ATPases
keywords: Biogeography; Biotic interchange; Climate change; Neotropics; Panamanian Isthmus