A MOLECULAR PHYLOGENY OF THE DOVE GENUS ZENAIDA: MITOCHONDRIAL AND NUCLEAR DNA SEQUENCES

Abstract

We reconstructed a phylogeny for the seven species of doves in the genus Zenaida on the basis of a combined analysis of mitochondrial (ND2 and cytochrome b) and nuclear (fibrinogen intron 7) DNA sequences. This phylogeny, which is completely resolved, is well supported with all nodes showing greater than 50% bootstrap support. There was no significant conflict between trees based on each gene independently, although trees produced from fibrinogen intron 7 did not resolve relationships among five of the Zenaida species. The species status of Z. graysoni, as well as that of Z. meloda, is suggested based on their divergence from sister taxa (about 1% and 4%, respectively) and other differences. Zenaida can be divided into two major groups: Zenaida asiatica and Z. meloda versus Z. aurita, Z. galapagoensis, Z. auriculata, Z. graysoni, and Z. macroura.