Taxonomy based on limited genomic markers may underestimates species diversity of rockhopper penguins and threaten their conservation

Delimiting recently diverged species is challenging. During speciation, genetic differentiation may be distributed unevenly across the genome, as different genomic regions can be subject to different selective pressures and evolutionary histories. Reliance on limited numbers of genetic markers that may be underpowered can make species delimitation even more challenging, potentially resulting in taxonomic inconsistencies. Rockhopper penguins of the genus Eudyptes comprise three broadly recognized taxa: northern (E. moseleyi), southern (E. chrysocome), and eastern rockhopper (E. filholi). Their taxonomic status has been controversial for decades, with researchers disagreeing about whether E. chrysocome and E. filholiare distinct species or conspecific. Our goal is to evaluate genome-wide patterns of divergence to evaluate genetic differentiation and species delimitation in rockhopper penguins, and to assess which mechanisms may underlie previous discordance among nuclear versus mitochondr...对新近分化物种进行界定颇具挑战性。在物种形成过程中，基因组不同区域可能承受不同的选择压力、拥有各异的演化历史，因此全基因组范围内的遗传分化分布往往并不均匀。若仅依靠数量有限且效力不足的遗传标记开展研究，会进一步加剧物种界定的难度，甚至可能引发分类学上的矛盾与不一致。凤头黄眉企鹅属（Eudyptes）的跳岩企鹅目前公认分为三个类群：北跳岩企鹅（E. moseleyi）、南跳岩企鹅（E. chrysocome）以及东跳岩企鹅（E. filholi）。数十年来，其分类地位始终存在争议——研究者们就南跳岩企鹅与东跳岩企鹅是否为独立物种，抑或属于同一物种，一直未能达成共识。本研究旨在通过分析全基因组的分化模式，评估跳岩企鹅的遗传分化水平与物种界定合理性，并解析此前核基因与线粒体相关研究结果不一致背后的潜在机制……