THE SPECIES OF THE BIRDS‐OF‐PARADISE (PARADISAEIDAE): APPLYING THE PHYLOGENETIC SPECIES CONCEPT TO A COMPLEX PATTERN OF DIVERSIFICATION

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Abstract
The phylogenetic species concept is applied for the first time to a major radiation of birds, the birds‐of‐paradise (Paradisaeidae) of Australasia. Using the biological species concept, previous workers have postulated approximately 40–42 species in the family. Of these, approximately 13 are monotypic and 27 are polytypic with about 100 subspecies. Phylogenetic species are irreducible (basal) clusters of organisms (terminal taxa) that are diagnosably distinct from other such clusters. Within the context of this concept, approximately 90 species of paradisaeids are postulated to have diversified within Australasia. The phylogenetic species concept more accurately describes evolutionary diversity within the family and provides a better theoretical and empirical framework for analysing speciation, historical biogeography and patterns of morphological, behavioral and ecological diversification within this group than does the biological species concept.