Geographic Isolation and Population Divergence Influence Speciation of

Hummingbirds in Mesoamerica

PART 1: Biological Organism Framework and Topic

Biological Organism Framework

 Taxon: Hummingbirds belong to the Family Trochilidae. (Lo ́pez-Segoviano, Arenas-
Navarro, Vega, E. & Arizmendi, 2018).
 Topic: The paper will discuss hummingbird speciation during Pleistocene glacial cycles
(González, Ornelas, & Gutiérrez-Rodríguez, 2011).
 Place: The region of study is that of Mesoamerica (Andes regions and Neotropics) along
latitudinal and altitudinal gradients. In particular, the Isthmus of Tehuantepec would be
investigated and the role it has played in hummingbird speciation (Rodríguez-Gomez,
Gutierrez-Rodrıguez, & Ornelas, 2013).
 Time: The time period under study is during Pleistocene- Holocene (Rodríguez-Gomez,
Gutierrez-Rodrıguez & Ornelas, 2013).

Topic

Isolation due to Physical Barriers: Allopatry

The topic this paper will focus on is the isolation and connectivity of the Family species in
Mesoamerican forests by travelling overland over the Isthmus of Tehuantepec land bridge during
the Pleistocene glacial cycles (González, Ornelas, & Gutiérrez-Rodríguez, 2011).

Isolation: Endemism
Another topic outlined in the paper will be that of endemism. The Mesoamerican region and the
Mexican transition zone are essential for hummingbirds (Ouvernay, Ferreira, & Morrone, 2018).
Here, there exists a biogeographic node as well as indications of endemism (Ouvernay, Ferreira,
& Morrone, 2018). Geographic events such as tectonism, volcanism, glacial cycles during
Pleistocene as well as the Isthmus of Tehuantepec have played a significant role in shaping the
distribution of Trochilidae (Ouvernay, Ferreira, & Morrone, 2018).

PART 2: Main Argument/Thesis

Argument/ Thesis:
Speciation during Pleistocene Glacial Cycles:
Hummingbirds experienced allopatric speciation due to the continental uplift and the sea level
oscillations of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec which acted as a biogeographic barrier and promoted
biological isolation during Pleistocene glacial cycles (González, Ornelas, & Gutiérrez-
Rodríguez, 2011).

Inspiration and Relevance of Paper

The inspiration and ideas to pursue this argument sparked from a trip taken to a hummingbird
sanctuary in Costa Rica three years ago where some background information was provided. This
paper will contribute to having a better understanding of hummingbird speciation in the
Mesoamerican region and how and why that process unfolded. In addition, it can provide insight
into the possibility of other endemic species local to the region of study. Overall, this would be
useful in conservation efforts of the region to ensure the survival of the hummingbird and other
endemic species.

Conservation Biology Relevancy:

Conservation of this region is of particular importance as hummingbirds are unable to fly
across ocean bodies and the mountains located in this region became isolated from other
mountains due to volcanic activity during the Oligocene period (Rodríguez-Gómez & Francisco,
2015). Due to the physical isolation of the Neotropics, it is a region of endemism and
hummingbirds may be used as an indication of endemic regions across Mesoamerica (Cadena,
Klicka, & Ricklefs, 2007). Studying co-distributed taxa would provide a better understanding of
shared patterns of isolation and colonization in this region and how organisms respond to
environmental changes that drives population differentiation which is relevant to the
conservation efforts of unique species (González, Ornelas, & Gutiérrez-Rodríguez, 2011).

PART 3: Literature Review

Cadena, C. D., Klicka, J. & Ricklefs, R. E. (2007). Evolutionary differentiation in the

Neotropical montane region: Molecular phylogenetics and phylogeography of Buarremon brush-
finches (Aves, Emberizidae) Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 44(3), 993–1016. doi:
10.1016/j.ympev.2006.12.012

González, C., Ornelas, J. F. & Gutiérrez-Rodríguez, C. (2011). Selection and geographic

isolation influence hummingbird speciation: genetic, acoustic and morphological divergence in
the wedge-tailed sabrewing (Campylopterus curvipennis). BMC Evolutionary Biology, 11(38).
doi: 10.1186/1471-2148-11-38

Lo ́pez-Segoviano, G., Arenas-Navarro, M., Vega, E. & Arizmendi, M. (2018).

Hummingbird migration and flowering synchrony in the temperate forests of northwestern
Mexico. PeerJ, 6. DOI 10.7717/peerj.5131

Ouvernay, D., Ferreira, I. & Morrone, J. J. (2018). Areas of endemism of hummingbirds (Aves:

Apodiformes: Trochilidae) in the Andean and Neotropical regions. Zoologia (Curitiba), 35. DOI:
10.3897/zoologia.35.e13673

Rodríguez-Gómez, F. & Francisco J. O. (2015). At the passing gate: past introgression in the
process of species formation between Amazilia violiceps and A. viridifrons hummingbirds along
the Mexican Transition Zone. Journal of Biogeography, 42(7), 1305-1318.

Rodríguez-Gomez, F., Gutierrez-Rodrıguez, C. & Ornelas, J. F. (2013). Genetic, phenotypic and

ecological divergence with gene flow at the Isthmus of Tehuantepec: the case of the azure-
crowned hummingbird (Amazilia cyanocephala). Journal of Biogeography, 40, 1360–1373.