A new palaeo-tectonic model of New Guinea and its consequences for understanding Indo-Pacific avian diversity in space and through time

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Abstract
The field of biogeography aims to reconcile geological changes with the distribution of biodiversity in space and through time. To this end, we examine how geology and climate have affected the spatio-temporal build-up of avian diversity on New Guinea and surrounding islands with a particular focus on birds-of-paradise. Here, we present a new palaeogeographic framework for the formation of New Guinea and surrounding islands from 35 Ma (mega-annum) to the present. We then use detailed information about sea-level changes and a new dated phylogenetic tree of the birds-of-paradise to elucidate, in a combined integrative approach, how geology and climate changes through time have shaped this group of birds. The new palaeogeographic model also has implications for our understanding of the early evolution of passerine birds and their dispersal out of Australo-Papua, which we discuss here. Using an integrative and iterative interdisciplinary approach that combines geological, climatic and evolutionary data, we elucidate the biogeographical history of species and clades with seemingly enigmatic present-day distributions. We present a new palaeogeographic framework (35-0 Ma) for the formation of Earth’s largest tropical island, New Guinea and some surrounding islands, including the northern Moluccas. We integrate data from the new palaegeographic model with information on sea-level fluctuations to determine emergence history and water barriers in space and through time. We present a new dated tree of the birds-of-paradise (Aves, Paradisaeidae), based on genomic data. Using an iterative approach, we synthesise information from the new palaeogeographic model, sea-level fluctuations and the dated tree to determine the optimal time for colonisation of islands around New Guinea by the birds-of-paradise. We discuss the importance of the presence of extensive landmasses north of Australia (proto-Papua) for passerine dispersal and evolution out of Australia. It is clear that significant insight can be gained in both biology and geology when their mutualistic potential is unlocked through an integrative approach.

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