Genomic patterns in the dwarf kingfishers of northern Melanesia reveal a mechanistic framework explaining the paradox of the great speciators.

ABSTRACT: The paradox of the great speciators describes a contradictory biogeographic pattern exhibited by numerous avian lineages in Oceania. Specifically, these lineages display broad geographic distributions across the region, implying strong over-water dispersal capabilities; yet, they also display repeated genetic and phenotypic divergence-even between geographically proximate islands-implying poor inter-island dispersal capabilities. One group originally cited as evidence for this paradox is the dwarf kingfishers of the genus Ceyx. Here, using genomic sequencing and comprehensive geographic sampling of the monophyletic Ceyx radiation from northern Melanesia, we find repeated, deep genetic divergence and no evidence for gene flow between lineages found on geographically proximate

SUBMITTER: DeRaad DA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11637610 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature