A complete and dynamic tree of birds.

Area of Science:

• Evolutionary Biology
• Ornithology
• Bioinformatics

Background:

• Phylogenetic relationships among bird species are crucial for evolutionary and biodiversity studies.
• Previous phylogenetic estimates were fragmented across numerous studies, hindering comprehensive analysis.
• A unified, time-scaled evolutionary tree for all bird species was lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To construct a complete, time-scaled evolutionary tree for all the world's bird species.
• To integrate existing phylogenetic data and taxonomic information into a single, robust dataset.
• To provide a reproducible framework for future updates and analyses of avian evolution.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the Open Tree synthesis algorithm to combine phylogenetic estimates from 262 studies (1990-2024).
• Incorporated curated taxonomic information for species not covered by direct phylogenetic estimates.
• Aligned tree tips to Clements Taxonomy and cross-mapped to other major taxonomic systems (Open Tree, NCBI, GBIF).

Main Results:

• Generated a complete, time-scaled evolutionary tree (Aves 1.3) encompassing 10,824 to 11,017 bird species across multiple taxonomy versions.
• Ensured the tree's data, software, and methods are public and reproducible.
• Demonstrated utility by calculating regional avian phylogenetic diversity using linked geographic data.

Conclusions:

• The presented avian evolutionary tree is a valuable, updatable resource for large-scale biodiversity research.
• The methodology is adaptable for creating similar comprehensive phylogenetic estimates for other taxonomic groups.
• Annual updates will ensure the tree remains current with new phylogenetic discoveries.