Species-level divergences in multiple functional traits between the two endemic subspecies of Blue Chaffinches Fringilla teydea in Canary Islands

摘要: One of the biggest challenges in avian taxonomy is delimitation allopatric species because their reproductive incompatibility cannot be directly studied wild. Instead, has to inferred from multiple, divergent character sets that indicate a low likelihood populations amalgamating upon secondary contact. A set quantitative criteria for been developed taxonomy. Here, we report broad multi-trait comparison two insular subspecies Blue Chaffinch Fringilla teydea, endemic pine forests Tenerife (ssp. teydea) and Gran Canaria polatzeki) Canary Islands. We found taxa were reciprocally monophyletic whole mitogenomes Z chromosome introns. The genetic distance indicates around 1 Mya evolution. There diagnostic differences body morphometrics, song plumage reflectance spectra, whose combined divergence score (=11) exceeds threshold level (=7) by Tobias et al. (Ibis 152:724–746, 2010). Moreover, marked sperm lengths with little range overlap. Relatively long intra- intermale CV compared other passerines suggest mating system high levels competition (extrapair paternity) these taxa. large divergences multiple functional traits qualify rank, i.e., (Fringilla polatzeki). encourage wider use might signal at postcopulatory prezygotic stage, especially competition.