Their eight-year study, “Extreme elevational migration spurred cryptic speciation in huge hummingbirds,” released this week in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, led them to another crucial discovery: The worlds biggest hummingbird is a brand-new species.The team, led by Jessie Williamson, UNM Ph.D., 2022, included the Museum of Southwestern Biology at UNM, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile in Chile, and Centro de Ornitología y Biodiversidad in Peru. At that time, Darwin speculated that the hummingbirds moved to the Atacama Desert region of northern Chile.Southern Giant Hummingbird prepares to take flight.”Nobody had actually figured out where migratory giant hummingbirds go because they were concealing among the non-migratory huge hummingbirds,” said Professor and Director of the Museum of Southwestern Biology Christopher Witt, who advised Williamsons argumentation work.
This revelation, derived from an eight-year research study utilizing miniaturized tracking devices and genome sequencing of museum specimens, showcases substantial distinctions between migratory and resident huge hummingbirds (visualized here), leading to the naming of a brand-new types, Patagona chaski.Researchers at UNM recognized a brand-new species of huge hummingbird that moves in between Chile and Peru, exposing its migration routes and genetic distinctiveness through innovative tracking and genome sequencing.Researchers from the University of New Mexicos Museum of Southwestern Biology (MSB) have actually uncovered the huge hummingbirds extreme long-distance migration for the first time. Their eight-year study, “Extreme elevational migration stimulated puzzling speciation in giant hummingbirds,” released this week in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, led them to another crucial discovery: The worlds largest hummingbird is a new species.The team, led by Jessie Williamson, UNM Ph.D., 2022, included the Museum of Southwestern Biology at UNM, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile in Chile, and Centro de Ornitología y Biodiversidad in Peru. At that time, Darwin hypothesized that the hummingbirds moved to the Atacama Desert area of northern Chile.Southern Giant Hummingbird prepares to take flight. Credit: Chris WittBy attaching miniature knapsack tracking gadgets to hummingbirds, Williamson and her UNM-led team of global partners found that migratory giant hummingbirds ascend over 13,000 feet in elevation to the high Andes, flying as far north as the mountains of Peru.”Nobody had figured out where migratory huge hummingbirds go due to the fact that they were concealing among the non-migratory huge hummingbirds,” said Professor and Director of the Museum of Southwestern Biology Christopher Witt, who advised Williamsons argumentation work.
