The taxonomy of the taxa in the Prinia atrogularis-khasiana-superciliaris complex has changed several times in recent history. To this day, different world bird lists classify this complex as 1–3 species. These classifications are based mainly on morphological comparisons of museum specimens. No study has analysed the songs and genetics of this complex. This thesis focuses on the integrative taxonomy of this complex by analysing and comparing their song and mitochondrial cytochrome b (cytb) gene. Seventeen different variables from in total 172 individual songs were measured and analysed. A linear discriminant analysis showed a clear separation in song between atrogularis, khasiana and the superciliaris group (latter including the taxa superciliaris, erythropleura, klossi, dysancrita and waterstradti). The mitochondrial cytb phylogenetic tree produced using Bayesian inference suggested that atrogularis and khasiana split from superciliaris around 4.9 million years ago (mya), with atrogularis and khasiana splitting from each other around 3.4 mya. Based on the combined results of the song and cytb analysis I propose to recognise three species: Black-throated Prinia Prinia atrogularis, Rufous-crowned Prinia P. khasiana and Hill Prinia P. superciliaris. The study also showed some support for classifying klossi as a separate species, but acquisition of additional information is needed to verify this.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UPSALLA1/oai:DiVA.org:uu-435486 |
| Date | January 2021 |
| Creators | Groot, Damon |
| Publisher | Uppsala universitet, Institutionen för biologisk grundutbildning, Uppsala universitet, Institutionen för ekologi och genetik |
| Source Sets | DiVA Archive at Upsalla University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Student thesis, info:eu-repo/semantics/bachelorThesis, text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
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