Morphological differentiation in a migratory bird across geographic gradients in mountains of southern Europe

Abstract

[Aim] In temperate mountain ranges, sharp spatial variations in habitat heterogeneity and climate provide a perfect study setup to assess genetic and phenotypic differentiation in bird populations. In this paper, we analysed morphological divergence patterns across geographical and environmental gradients, in correlation with genetic differentiation and geographical isolation, in the breeding grounds of a long-distance migratory passerine.

[Location] Northwestern Iberian mountains.

[Taxon] The Iberian bluethroat, Luscina svecica azuricollis.

[Method] We collected a sample of 625 Iberian bluethroats across their whole breeding range to measure body weight and tarsus length, as well as wing length and pointedness. Morphological differentiation across geographical (latitude and elevation) and environmental (climate and vegetation) gradients was assessed using generalized linear mixed models. Additionally, the role of genetic distance and geographical isolation as drivers of morphological differentiation was evaluated with Mantel tests.

[Results] Bird morphology varied significantly with latitude and elevation, but not with climate or vegetation. In the case of latitude, morphological differences in body size were contrary to Bergmann's rule statements. All biometric and morphometric variables diverged among localities. A similar trend was found for genetic clusters, except for wing shape. Body weight and wing length were both correlated with geographic distance, while only the former varied with genetic differentiation. The greatest genetic and phenotypic differentiation was detected in the southernmost mountain range, that holds the most geographically isolated genetic group.

[Main conclusion] Evidence suggests that the strong morphological differentiation observed in the Iberian breeding bluethroat across geographical gradients results from the combination of unambiguous deterministic forces, such as ecological selection mechanisms, and other factors, such as geographical isolation, that can be either deterministic, stochastic or both, all acting at different scales.