@article {68966,
	title = {Potential merger of ancient lineages in a passerine bird discovered based on evidence from host-specific ectoparasites},
	journal = {Ecology and Evolution},
	volume = {5},
	year = {2015},
	month = {Jan-09-2015},
	pages = {3743 - 3755},
	abstract = {<p>The merger of formerly isolated lineages is hypothesized to occur in vertebrates under certain conditions. However, despite many demonstrated instances of introgression between taxa in secondary contact, examples of lineage mergers are rare. Preliminary mtDNA sequencing of a Malagasy passerine, Xanthomixis zosterops (Passeriformes: Bernieridae), indicated a possible instance of merging lineages. We tested the hypothesis that X. zosterops lineages are merging by comparing mtDNA sequence and microsatellite data, as well as mtDNA sequence data from host-specific feather lice in the genus Myrsidea (Phthi- raptera: Menoponidae). Xanthomixis zosterops comprises four deeply divergent, broadly sympatric, cryptic mtDNA clades that likely began diverging approxi- mately 3.6 million years ago. Despite this level of divergence, the microsatellite data indicate that the X. zosterops mtDNA clades are virtually panmictic. Three major phylogroups of Myrsidea were found, supporting previous allopatry of the X. zosterops clades. In combination, the datasets from X. zosterops and its Myrsidea document a potential merger of previously allopatric lineages that likely date to the Pliocene. This represents the first report of sympatric apparent hybridization among more than two terrestrial vertebrate lineages. Further, the mtDNA phylogeographic pattern of X. zosterops, namely the syntopy of more than two deeply divergent cryptic clades, appears to be a novel scenario among vertebrates. We highlight the value of gathering multiple types of data in phylo-geographic studies to contribute to the study of vertebrate speciation.</p>
},
	keywords = {birds, desperation, ectoparasites, Madagascar, microsatellites},
	doi = {10.1002/ece3.1639},
	url = {http://doi.wiley.com/10.1002/ece3.1639},
	author = {Block, Nicholas L. and Goodman,Steven M. and Hackett, Shannon J. and Bates,John M. and Raherilalao, Marie J.}
}
@article {48396,
	title = {Comparative phylogenetic histories of two louse genera found on Catharus thrushes and other birds.},
	journal = {Journal of Parasitology},
	volume = {95},
	year = {2009},
	month = {2009},
	pages = {295 - 307},
	abstract = {<p>The louse genera Brueelia (Ischnocera) and Myrsidea (Amblycera) are broadly codistributed on songbirds (Passeriformes), but differ in a variety of life history characteristics. We used mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences to assess levels of genetic divergence and reconstruct phylogenies of these 2 genera, focusing especially on Catharus thrushes in North America. We then qualitatively compared the phylogenies and levels of divergence within these 2 genera of codistributed parasites. Neither Brueelia nor Myrsidea appears to cospeciate with Catharus thrushes or passerine birds in general. The Myrsidea phylogeny exhibits significant levels of biogeographic structure, whereas the Brueelia phylogeny does not. Myrsidea and Brueelia also differ in their levels of intra-generic genetic divergence, with Myrsidea showing higher levels of genetic divergence and host specificity than Brueelia. Our genetic data support traditional morphology-based taxonomy in several instances in which the same species of Brueelia has been reported on multiple host taxa, e.g., all migrant Catharus spp. carry B. antiqua, with little haplotype divergence. Myrsidea found on each Catharus sp. are in general genetically distinct, except for M. incerta, which parasitizes both Catharus ustulatus and Catharus minimus. The strong biogeographic signal in the Myrsidea phylogeny and higher relativelevels of host specificity of Myrsidea spp. suggest that infrequent host-switching, followed by speciation, is shaping the evolutionary history of this group. In contrast, the relatively lower host specificity of Brueelia spp. suggests that host-switching, combined with more frequent ongoing dispersal, has been more important in the evolutionary history of Brueelia.</p>
},
	keywords = {Brueelia, Myrsidea},
	url = {http://www.phthiraptera.info/sites/phthiraptera.info/files/47541.pdf},
	author = {Bueter,Chelsea and Jason D. Weckstein and Kevin P. Johnson and Bates,John M. and Gordon,Caleb E.}
}
