Ecomorphological patterns in the Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla: insular versus mainland populations

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2015

Authors

Pedro Andrade (Author) Other; Pedro Rodrigues (Author) Other; Ricardo Jorge Lopes (Author) Other; Jaime Albino Ramos (Author) Other; Regina Tristao Da Cunha (Author) Other; David Goncalves (Author) FCUP

Journal

Title: Bird Study

Vol. 62

Pages: 498-507

ISSN: 0006-3657

Publisher: Taylor & Francis

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 8 Citations

Scopus - 7 Citations

Scientific classification

CORDIS: Natural sciences > Biological sciences > Biodiversity > Biodiversity characterisation

FOS: Natural sciences > Biological sciences

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00G-TFP

DOI: 10.1080/00063657.2015.1077780

Abstract (EN): Capsule Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla populations from the Azores archipelago show morphological differences to continental birds which are consistent with the Island Rule'.Aims The morphology of insular vertebrates is usually the result of the evolution in their particular environment and leads to predictable morphological patterns, according to the Island Rule. We test the predictions of the Island Rule, using the Blackcap of the Azores archipelago as our model.Methods We compared morphological variation (body size and wing shape) of populations from the nine islands of the Azores to continental birds, using multivariate indexes. Also, we looked at the relationship between these patterns and possible insular ecological drivers of morphological divergence.Results Our findings are concordant with Island Rule predictions, as in general birds from the Azores are larger than continental populations, especially birds from the most distant islands. Wing shape also differs significantly, as Azorean Blackcaps tend to have rounder wings than continental birds with a migratory-like phenotype.Conclusion Overall, we conclude that the observed morphological patterns in Blackcap in the Azores conform in general to the Island Rule predictions.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 10