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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 108(4)

Subspeciation in the Short-tailed Grasswren (Amytornis merrotsyi, Maluridae)

Les Christidis A D E , Philippa Horton B and Janette A. Norman C D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Division of Research and Collections, Australian Museum, 6 College Street, Sydney, NSW 2010, Australia.

B Ornithology Section, South Australian Museum, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia.

C Population and Evolutionary Genetics Unit, Sciences Department, Museum Victoria, GPO Box 666, Melbourne, Vic. 3001, Australia.

D Department of Genetics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic. 3052, Australia.

E Corresponding author. Email: les.christidis@austmus.gov.au

Emu 108(4) 275-282 https://doi.org/10.1071/MU08011
Submitted: 27 March 2008  Accepted: 13 August 2008   Published: 23 October 2008

Abstract

The Short-tailed Grasswren (Amytornis merrotsyi) is restricted to the stony spinifex (Triodia) hills of the Gawler Ranges and Flinders Ranges of South Australia. Comparisons of DNA sequences of the mitochondrial ND3 gene reveal an average of 2.1% (1.7–2.3%) sequence divergence between the two isolated populations. Genetic differentiation within populations was less, ranging from 0 to 0.6% between individuals. This pattern of genetic differentiation is comparable to that observed between other recognised subspecies of Amytornis for the same DNA locus. Detailed comparisons of morphology and plumage patterns reveal consistent and diagnosable differences between the two populations confirming earlier more limited morphological assessments. Based on the combination of molecular and morphological differences, the Gawler Ranges population is here named as a separate subspecies, A. m. pedleri subsp. nov.


Acknowledgements

This work would not have been possible without the efforts of Lynn Pedler who has been instrumental in bringing the Gawler Ranges Short-tailed Grasswren to the attention of the ornithological community. We thank Graham Carpenter and Lynn Pedler for their advice on grasswren ecology and distribution. We are grateful to Margaret Evans, South Australian Research and Development Institute, for running the statistical analyses; to Brian Blaylock for preparing the map; and to Andrew Black and Leo Joseph for encouraging the publication of this work. Andrew Black and two anonymous referees are also thanked for comments on the manuscript. The DNA component of the study was supported by grants from the Norman Wettenhall Foundation and the Australian Biological Resources Study. We also thank the Ian Potter Foundation and Amersham Biosciences for providing funds to develop the Ancient DNA Laboratory and DNA sequencing facilities at Museum Victoria where the molecular work was undertaken.


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