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Higher-level phylogeny of trogoniformes.
1Department of Ornithology, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, New York, New York, 10024, USA. aespinos@ecologia.edu.mx
Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution
|January 13, 2000
Summary
Phylogenetic analysis reveals mousebirds (Coliiformes) are the closest relatives to trogons, challenging previous hypotheses. This finding, based on genetic sequencing, clarifies evolutionary bird relationships.
Area of Science:
- Avian phylogeny
- Molecular systematics
- Evolutionary biology
Background:
- Trogons' evolutionary placement has been debated, with coraciiforms often suggested as closest relatives.
- Previous studies lacked sufficient molecular data to resolve higher-level phylogenetic affinities of Trogoniformes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the phylogenetic relationships of Trogoniformes using molecular data.
- To test the hypothesis of a close relationship between trogons and coraciiforms.
- To resolve conflicting results from previous phylogenetic analyses.
Main Methods:
- Complete cytochrome b and nearly complete 12S ribosomal RNA gene sequences were analyzed.
- Phylogenetic trees were constructed using molecular sequence data.
- Saturation analysis was performed to identify and remove saturated data partitions.
Main Results:
- The hypothesis of trogons being closely related to coraciiforms was not supported by the data.
- Phylogenetic analyses, after removing saturated data, indicated mousebirds (Coliiformes) as the sister taxon to trogons.
- Parrots and cuckoos were also suggested as closer relatives than coraciiforms, though with less certainty.
Conclusions:
- Mousebirds (Coliiformes) are the sister group to trogons, revising our understanding of avian evolutionary history.
- Phylogenetic inconsistencies may stem from rapid early cladogenesis and branch length imbalance.
- Further research with more comprehensive data may be needed to fully resolve early avian divergences.