Phylogenetic analyses can be used to resolve taxonomic uncertainties and reconstruct a species’ evolutionary history. This can be combined with ecological data to predict missing life history traits which are important for creation of conservation management strategies. We investigated the evolutionary and life history of the ‘Critically Endangered’ Grenada Dove Leptotila wellsi by estimating its phylogenetic placement and using this new phylogeny to test the accuracy of phylogenetic comparative methods for estimating both documented and unknown life history traits. We extracted DNA from two Grenada Dove samples and obtained sequences from three mitochondrial markers: Cytochrome oxidase I (COI), NADH dehydrogenase 2 (ND2) and Cytochrome b (Cyt b); and one nuclear marker: β-Fibrinogen intron 7 (β-FIB). We present the first genetic data obtained for the Grenada Dove. Our data identify the Grey-Chested Dove Leptotila cassinii as the species which shares both a most recent common ancestor, with an estimated divergence of approximately 2.53 million years ago, and the smallest genetic distance (P = 0.0303) with the Grenada Dove. Life history trait values for the Grenada Dove predicted from our analyses using phylogenetic imputation are: clutch size = 2 (± 0.09) eggs; clutches per year = 1.4 (± 0.81); incubation time = 14.2 (± 0.75) days; hatching weight = 3.8 g (± 1.05) and single imputation: fledging age (genus median) = 15.5 days, longevity (genus median) = 8.6 years. This study contributes novel information regarding evolutionary history and life history characteristics to inform long-term conservation actions for a ‘Critically Endangered’ species.

系统发育分析可用于解决分类学的不确定性并重建物种的进化历史。这可以与生态数据相结合来预测缺失的生活史特征，这对于制定保护管理策略非常重要。我们通过估计“极度濒危”格林纳达斑鸠Leptotila Wellsi的系统发育位置，并使用这种新的系统发育来测试系统发育比较方法估计记录和未知生活史特征的准确性，从而研究了“极度濒危”格林纳达斑鸠 Leptotila Wellsi 的进化和生活史。我们从两个格林纳达鸽子样本中提取 DNA，并获得了三个线粒体标记物的序列：细胞色素氧化酶 I ( COI )、NADH 脱氢酶 2 ( ND2 ) 和细胞色素 b ( Cyt b)）；和一种核标记：β-纤维蛋白原内含子 7 ( β-FIB )。我们展示了为格林纳达鸽子获得的第一个遗传数据。我们的数据将灰胸鸠Leptotila cassinii确定为具有最近共同祖先（估计分歧约为 253 万年前）和最小遗传距离（P= 0.0303) 与格林纳达鸽子。根据我们使用系统发育插补的分析预测的格林纳达鸽子的生活史特征值为： 每窝蛋数 = 2 (± 0.09) 个蛋；每年离合器 = 1.4 (± 0.81)；孵育时间 = 14.2 (± 0.75) 天；孵化重量 = 3.8 克 (± 1.05) 和单一估算：雏龄（属中位数）= 15.5 天，寿命（属中位数）= 8.6 年。这项研究提供了有关进化历史和生活史特征的新信息，为“极度濒危”物种的长期保护行动提供信息。