A Phylogenomic Study of Birds Reveals Their Evolutionary History
Museum of Vertebrate Zoology · Field Museum of Natural History · +4 more institutions
Abstract
Deep avian evolutionary relationships have been difficult to resolve as a result of a putative explosive radiation. Our study examined approximately 32 kilobases of aligned nuclear DNA sequences from 19 independent loci for 169 species, representing all major extant groups, and recovered a robust phylogeny from a genome-wide signal supported by multiple analytical methods. We documented well-supported, previously unrecognized interordinal relationships (such as a sister relationship between passerines and parrots) and corroborated previously contentious groupings (such as flamingos and grebes). Our conclusions challenge current classifications and alter our understanding of trait evolution; for example, some…
Citation impact
- FWCI
- 71.86
- Percentile
- 100%
- References
- 31
Authors
18- SJShannon J. HackettCorresponding
Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, Field Museum of Natural History, Museum Conservation Institute, University of Florida, National Research Foundation, University of California, Berkeley
- RTRebecca T. KimballCorresponding
Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, Field Museum of Natural History, Museum Conservation Institute, University of Florida, National Research Foundation, University of California, Berkeley
- SRSushma ReddyCorresponding
Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, Field Museum of Natural History, Museum Conservation Institute, University of Florida, National Research Foundation, University of California, Berkeley
- RCRauri C. K. Bowie
Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, Field Museum of Natural History, Museum Conservation Institute, University of Florida, National Research Foundation, University of California, Berkeley
- ELEdward L. Braun
Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, Field Museum of Natural History, Museum Conservation Institute, University of Florida, National Research Foundation, University of California, Berkeley
Topics & keywords
- Biology
- Phylogenetics
- Phylogenetic tree
- Evolutionary biology
- Extant taxon
- Trait
- Sister group
- Zoology
- Life in Land