Climate cycling did not affect haplotype distribution in an abundant Southern African avian habitat generalist species, the familiar chat (Oenanthe familiaris).

ABSTRACT: Avian species diversity in Southern Africa is remarkably high, yet the mechanisms responsible for that diversity are poorly understood. While this is particularly true with respect to species endemic to the subregion, it is unclear as to how more broadly distributed African species may have colonized southern Africa. One process that may in part account for the high bird species diversity in southern Africa is a "species pump" model, wherein the region was repeatedly colonized by lineages from areas further north: a pattern related to climate cycling and the eastern African arid corridor. Once occupying southern Africa, with its many varied biomes, it is possible that climate cycling further affected lineages by generating genetic diversity in multiple refugia, a pattern recently shown for

SUBMITTER: Voelker G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12046466 | biostudies-literature | 2025 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature