Museomics Sheds Light on Evolutionary Diversity in a Critically Endangered Cockatoo Species From Wallacea
Author(s)
Date Issued
December 17, 2024
Type
article
Volume
34
Issue
23
ISSN
0962-1083
1365-294X
Journal
Abstract
ABSTRACTAccurate identification of evolutionarily significant units of rare and threatened organisms provides a foundation for effectivemanagement and conservation. Up to seven subspecies of the critically endangered Yellow-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua sulphurea)have been described, four of which were commonly recognised pre-2014. In the absence of genotypic data, C. sulphurea subspe-cies delimitation has been based on morphology, behaviour and biogeography. To clarify genetic relationships and shed light onthe diversification of this parrot radiation, whole genomes were sequenced for 16 museum specimens, covering the geographicrange of the proposed seven subspecies as well as one C. galerita galerita. Combined with four museum-derived wild Cacatuasequences from NCBI, the results indicate there are three distinct C. sulphurea subspecies clusters centred in different biogeo-graphic subregions of Wallacea (Timor; Sumba; as well as the Sulawesi Region and the main Lesser Sunda chain), separated byshallow genetic distances (d a < 0.148%). The results raise questions about the recent species-level elevation of the phenotypicallymost distinct subspecies, C. s. citrinocristata, and about the origins of C. s. abbotti, the only subspecies west of Wallace's Line.Our analyses suggest C. s. abbotti is unlikely to be embedded within C. sulphurea, suggesting its origin on the remote Masalembuislands may be due to human translocation via historical trade routes. These genomic results inform the prioritisation andstreamlining of conservation measures for the critically endangered C. sulphurea by identifying and delimiting likely conserva-tion units
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