---
title: "Are the ACAP-listed Balearic Shearwater and the Yelkouan Shearwater two separate species?  A new genetic study says not"
---

# Are the ACAP-listed Balearic Shearwater and the Yelkouan Shearwater two separate species?  A new genetic study says not

![Anju Rajesh Balearic Shearwater pen ink Pep Arcos](https://acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Shearwaters/Balearic/Anju_Rajesh_Balearic_Shearwater_pen__ink_Pep_Arcos.jpg) *Balearic Shearwater by Anju Rajesh, after a photograph by 'Pep' Arcos*

 Joan Ferrer Obiol (**[Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística](https://www.ub.edu/portal/web/dp-genmicrostat)**, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain) and colleagues have published open access in the journal [*Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution*](https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/molecular-phylogenetics-and-evolution), finding that current taxonomies do not provide an accurate delineation of North Atlantic and Mediterranean *Puffinus* shearwaters.  Based on their genetic study, they propose Yelkouan and Balearic *P. mauretanicus* Shearwaters should not be given specific status but be regarded as subspecies of the Mediterranean Shearwater *P. yelkouan*.

 The authors state that the two taxa “are good examples of differentiated populations worthy of consideration as intraspecific units that represent unique morphological, ecological and genetic diversity for conservation of biodiversity.  We stress that developing action plans for *P. mauretanicus* and *P. yelkouan* should not depend on whether these taxa are classified as separate species or not.”

 ![Yelkouan Shearwater Malta Andre Raine 1 001](https://acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Shearwaters/Yelkouan/Yelkouan_Shearwater_Malta_Andre_Raine_1-001.jpg)  
*A  banded Yelkouan Shearwater in Malta, photograph by Andre Raine*

 The paper’s abstract follows

 “Speciation is a continuous and complex process shaped by the interaction of numerous evolutionary forces. Despite the continuous nature of the speciation process, the implementation of conservation policies relies on the delimitation of species and evolutionary significant units (ESUs).  *Puffinus* shearwaters are globally distributed and threatened pelagic seabirds. Due to remarkable morphological status the group has been under intense taxonomic debate for the past three decades. Here, we use double digest Restriction-Site Associated DNA sequencing (ddRAD-Seq) to genotype species and subspecies of North Atlantic and Mediterranean *Puffinus* shearwaters across their entire geographical range. We assess the phylogenetic relationships and population structure among and within the group, evaluate species boundaries, and characterise the genomic landscape of divergence. We find that current taxonomies are not supported by genomic data and propose a more accurate taxonomy by integrating genomic information with other sources of evidence. Our results show that several taxon pairs are at different stages of a speciation continuum. Our study emphasises the potential of genomic data to resolve taxonomic uncertainties, which can help to focus management actions on relevant taxa, even if they do not necessarily coincide with the taxonomic rank of species.”

 Read an [ACAP Monthly Missive](https://acap.aq/news/acap-monthly-missives) on listing more shearwaters on the Agreement, including the Yelkouan, [here](https://acap.aq/latest-news/4482-the-acap-monthly-missive-should-more-shearwaters-be-listed-by-the-agreement).

 **Reference:**

 Species delimitation using genomic data to resolve taxonomic uncertainties in a speciation continuum of pelagic seabirds.  [*Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution * 179.  doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2022.107671](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2022.107671).

 *John Cooper, ACAP News Correspondent, 08 December 2022*