The ecological and geographic context of morphological and genetic divergence in an understorey-dwelling bird.

ABSTRACT: Advances in understanding the process of species formation require an integrated perspective that includes the evaluation of spatial, ecological and genetic components. One approach is to focus on multiple stages of divergence within the same species. Species that comprise phenotypically different populations segregated in apparently distinct habitats, in which range is presently continuous but was putatively geographically isolated provide an interesting system to study the mechanisms of population divergence. Here, we attempt to elucidate the role of ecology and geography in explaining observed morphological and genetic variation in an understorey-dwelling bird endemic to southeastern Africa, where two subspecies are recognized according to phenotype and habitat affinity. We carried out

SUBMITTER: Ribeiro AM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3917827 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature