Enigmas no longer: using ultraconserved elements to place several unusual hawk taxa and address the non-monophyly of the genus Accipiter (Accipitriformes: Accipitridae)

Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 22, 2024

Abstract Hawks, eagles, and their relatives (Accipitriformes: Accipitridae) are a diverse charismatic clade of modern birds, with many members that instantly recognized by the general public. However, surprisingly little is known about relationships among genera within Accipitridae, several studies have suggested some (in particular, megadiverse genus Accipiter) not monophyletic. Here, we combine large new dataset obtained from ultraconserved elements, generated whole genome sequencing 134 species, publicly available legacy markers (i.e. suite commonly sequenced mitochondrial nuclear genes) to infer well-supported, time-calibrated phylogeny 237 extant or recently extinct species. Our densely sampled phylogeny, which includes 90% confirms non-monophyly Accipiter provides sufficient basis revise genus-level taxonomy, such all in Accipitridae represent monophyletic groups.

Language: Английский

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Sixty-fifth Supplement to the American Ornithological Society’s Check-list of North American Birds

Ornithology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 141(3)

Published: July 17, 2024

Language: Английский

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Macroevolutionary drivers of morphological disparity in the avian quadrate

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 291(2017)

Published: Feb. 21, 2024

In birds, the quadrate connects mandible and skull, plays an important role in cranial kinesis. Avian morphology may therefore be assumed to have been influenced by selective pressures related feeding ecology, yet large-scale variation its potential relationship with ecology never quantitatively investigated. Here, we used geometric morphometrics phylogenetic comparative methods quantify morphological of key ecological features across a wide sample. We found non-significant associations between shape different scales comparison; indeed, allometry phylogeny exhibit stronger relationships than features. show that similar shapes are associated widely varying dietary ecologies (one-to-many mapping), while divergent (many-to-one mapping). Moreover, avian evolves as integrated unit exhibits strong morphologies neighbouring bones. Our results collectively illustrate has evolved jointly other elements kinetic system, major crown bird lineages exploring alternative morphologies, highlighting diagnostic value investigations systematics.

Language: Английский

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Divergence time estimation of Galliformes based on the best gene shopping scheme of ultraconserved elements

BMC Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 21(1)

Published: Nov. 22, 2021

Abstract Background Divergence time estimation is fundamental to understanding many aspects of the evolution organisms, such as character evolution, diversification, and biogeography. With development sequence technology, improved analytical methods, knowledge fossils for calibration, it possible obtain robust molecular dating results. However, while phylogenomic datasets show great promise in phylogenetic estimation, best ways leverage large amounts data divergence has not been well explored. A potential solution focus on a subset which can significantly reduce computational burdens avoid problems with heterogeneity that may bias Results In this study, we obtained thousands ultraconserved elements (UCEs) from 130 extant galliform taxa, including representatives all genera, determine times throughout history. We tested effects different “gene shopping” schemes using carefully, previously validated, set fossils. Our results found commonly used clock-like be suitable UCE (or other types) where some loci have little information. suggest use partitioning (e.g., PartitionFinder) selection tree-like partitions good strategies select UCEs. tree largely consistent clock studies mitochondrial nuclear loci. our increased taxon sampling, well-resolved topology, carefully vetted fossil calibrations, high quality tree. Conclusions provide backbone combined more records further facilitate Galliformes resource comparative biogeographic group.

Language: Английский

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Gray Partridges (Phasianidae: Genera Perdix and Enkuria gen. nov.) from the Early Pleistocene of Crimea and Remarks on the Evolution of the Genus Perdix

Paleontological Journal, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 58(3), P. 335 - 352

Published: June 1, 2024

Language: Английский

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Taphonomic damage obfuscates interpretation of the retroarticular region of the Asteriornis mandible

Geobios, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Aug. 1, 2024

Asteriornis maastrichtensis, from the latest Cretaceous of Belgium, is among oldest known crown bird fossils, and its three-dimensionally preserved skull provides most substantial insights into cranial morphology early birds to date. Phylogenetic analyses recovered as a total-group member Galloanserae, clade uniting Galliformes Anseriformes. One important feature supporting this placement was enlargement retroarticular processes, which form elongate caudal extensions mandible in extant Galloanserae. Here, we reinterpret jaw illustrate that caudalmost portion mandibles are fact not preserved. Instead, extremities both left right mandibular rami extend surface fossil block containing holotype skull, where they have eroded away. The originally identified process – exhibits orientation strikingly similar processes certain galloanserans, including Palaeogene total-clade anseriforms Conflicto Nettapterornis instead represents twisted caudally displaced medial process. Nonetheless, anatomical comparisons with taxa reveal cannot exclude possibility exhibited robust comparable those In light reinterpreted mandible, update original character matrix used investigate phylogenetic relationships perform revised analyses, continue support galloanseran, initially interpreted. We demonstrate additional morphological traits position provide new data on nature distribution birds.

Language: Английский

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Avian telencephalon and cerebellum volumes can be accurately estimated from digital brain endocasts

Biology Letters, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 21(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

For studies of the evolution vertebrate brain anatomy and potentially associated behaviours, reconstructions digital endocasts from computed tomography scans have revolutionized our capacity to collect neuroanatomical data. However, measurements must be validated as reflecting actual anatomy, which is difficult because collection soft tissue information through histology laborious time-consuming. In birds, reliability endocast volume proxies for two largest regions—the telencephalon cerebellum—remains despite their use proxies, e.g. cognitive performance or flight ability. We here dataset date, including 136 species 25 avian orders, compare surface area with volumes telencephalon, cerebellum whole-brain endocast. Using linear phylogenetically informed regression analyses, we demonstrate that surfaces are strongly correlated counterparts both absolute relative size. This provides empirical support using endocast-derived cerebellar telencephalic areas in existing future living extinct potential expand dinosaur—bird transition future.

Language: Английский

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Genomic evidence for hybridization and introgression between blue peafowl and endangered green peafowl and molecular foundation of leucistic plumage of blue peafowl

GigaScience, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 14

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Abstract Introduction The blue peafowl (Pavo cristatus) and the green muticus) have garnered significant public affection due to their stunning appearance, although is currently endangered. causative mutation that causes leucistic plumage of (also called white peafowl) remains unknown. Results In this study, we generated a chromosome-level reference genome with contig N50 30.6 Mb, including autosomes, Z W sex chromosomes, complete mitochondria DNA sequence. Data from 77 whole genomes, 76 mitochondrial 33 chromosomes genomes provided first substantial genetic evidence for recent hybridization between peafowls peafowls. We found 3 hybrid in zoo samples rather than wild samples, genomic content 16–34%. Maternal analysis showed 2 female contained chromosomes. Some animal protection agencies release captive order maintain population Therefore, better protect endangered peafowl, suggest purebred identification must be carried out before releasing zoos into prevent contaminating peafowl. addition, also there were historical introgression events 4 individuals. introgressed regions contain IGFBP1 IGFBP3 genes could affect body size. Finally, identified nonsense (g.4:12583552G>A) EDNRB2 gene preventing melanocytes being transported plumage, thereby inhibiting melanin deposition. Conclusion Our research provides both theoretical empirical support conservation high-quality data provide valuable resource genomics-assisted breeding.

Language: Английский

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Testing the mettle of METAL: A comparison of phylogenomic methods using a challenging but well-resolved phylogeny

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 3, 2024

The evolutionary histories of different genomic regions typically differ from each other and the underlying species phylogeny. This makes tree estimation challenging. Here, we examine performance phylogenomic methods using a well-resolved phylogeny that nevertheless contains many difficult nodes, living birds. We compared trees generated by maximum likelihood (ML) analysis concatenated data, gene summary methods, SVDquartets. also conduct first empirical test “new” method called METAL (Metric algorithm for Estimation Trees based on Aggregation Loci), which is distances calculated data. conducted this novel dataset comprising more than 4,000 ultraconserved element (UCE) loci almost all bird families two existing UCE intron datasets sampled avian orders. identified “reliable clades” very likely to be present in true used them assess performance. ML analyses data recovered reliable clades with less greater robustness missing methods. clades, but only performed well largest datasets. Gene (weighted ASTRAL weighted ASTRID) well; they required concatenation. SVDquartets exhibited worst tested. In addition methodological insights, study provides estimate 99% currently recognized families. Only one 181 examined was consistently resolved differently concatenation versus suggesting it may possible achieve consensus deep extant

Language: Английский

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Grouse (Aves: Phasianidae: Tetraonini) from the Early Pleistocene of Crimea, and the Taxonomic Status of Lagopus atavus

Paleontological Journal, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 58(1), P. 112 - 123

Published: Feb. 1, 2024

Language: Английский

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