1. |
- Ji, Yanzhu, et al.
(author)
-
Orthologous microsatellites, transposable elements, and DNA deletions correlate with generation time and body mass in neoavian birds
- 2022
-
In: Science Advances. - : American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). - 2375-2548. ; 8:35
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The rate of mutation accumulation in germline cells can be affected by cell replication and/or DNA damage, which are further related to life history traits such as generation time and body mass. Leveraging the existing datasets of 233 neoavian bird species, here, we investigated whether generation time and body mass contribute to the interspecific variation of orthologous microsatellite length, transposable element (TE) length, and deletion length and how these genomic attributes affect genome sizes. In nonpasserines, we found that generation time is correlated to both orthologous microsatellite length and TE length, and body mass is negatively correlated to DNA deletions. These patterns are less pronounced in passerines. In all species, we found that DNA deletions relate to genome size similarly as TE length, suggesting a role of body mass dynamics in genome evolution. Our results indicate that generation time and body mass shape the evolution of genomic attributes in neoavian birds.
|
|
2. |
- Wu, Lei, et al.
(author)
-
Limited Song Mixing Without Genomic Gene Flow in a Contact Zone Between Two Songbird Species
- 2023
-
In: Molecular biology and evolution. - : Oxford University Press. - 0737-4038 .- 1537-1719. ; 40:3
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Song is considered to play an important role in the maintenance of prezygotic reproductive isolation between closely related songbird species. Therefore, song mixing in a contact zone between closely related species is often considered as evidence of hybridization. The Sichuan Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus forresti and the Gansu Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus kansuensis, which diverged 2 million years ago, have formed a contact zone in the south of the Gansu Province of China, where mixed songs have been observed. In this study, we investigated the potential causes and consequences of song mixing by integrating bioacoustic, morphological, mitochondrial, and genomic data with field ecological observations. We found that the two species display no apparent morphological differences, whereas their songs differ dramatically. We demonstrated that ∼11% of the males in the contact zone sang mixed songs. Two males singing mixed song were genotyped, and both were found to be P. kansuensis. Despite the presence of mixed singers, population genomic analyses detected no signs of recent gene flow between the two species, although two possible cases of mitochondrial introgression were identified. We conclude that the rather limited song mixing does not lead to, or result from, hybridization, and hence does not result in the breakdown of reproductive barriers between these cryptic species.
|
|
3. |
|
|
4. |
- Alström, Per, et al.
(author)
-
A review of the recent advances in the systematics of the avian superfamily Sylvioidea
- 2013
-
In: Chinese Birds. - : Chinese Birds (Press). - 1674-7674. ; 4, s. 99-131
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The systematics of the avian superfamily Sylvioidea are reviewed, focusing on studies of relationships among families and within genera, more superficially on taxonomic studies at the species level. For the families Bernieridae and Phylloscopidae, new analyses based on already published sequence data are presented. Our understanding of relationships has been vastly improved in recent years due to a large number of molecular studies. However, the relationships among the different families remain largely obscured, probably mainly as a result of rapid divergence of the different primary lineages (families). Also, species level taxonomy has been much improved in recent years due to a large number of studies applying molecular markers and/or vocalizations and other life-history data. It seems likely that the number of species will continue to increase, as new groups are being studied with modern integrative methods.
|
|
5. |
|
|
6. |
- Alström, Per, et al.
(author)
-
Discovery of a relict lineage and monotypic family of passerine birds.
- 2014
-
In: Biology Letters. - : The Royal Society. - 1744-9561 .- 1744-957X. ; 10:3
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Analysis of one of the most comprehensive datasets to date of the largest passerine bird clade, Passerida, identified 10 primary well-supported lineages corresponding to Sylvioidea, Muscicapoidea, Certhioidea, Passeroidea, the ‘bombycillids’ (here proposed to be recognized as Bombycilloidea), Paridae/Remizidae (proposed to be recognized as Paroidea), Stenostiridae, Hyliotidae, Regulidae (proposed to be recognized as Reguloidea) and spotted wren-babbler Spelaeornis formosus. The latter was found on a single branch in a strongly supported clade with Muscicapoidea, Certhioidea and Bombycilloidea, although the relationships among these were unresolved. We conclude that the spotted wren-babbler represents a relict basal lineage within Passerida with no close extant relatives, and we support the already used name Elachura formosa and propose the new family name Elachuridae for this single species.
|
|
7. |
- Alström, Per, et al.
(author)
-
Phylogeny and classification of the Old World Emberizini (Aves, Passeriformes)
- 2008
-
In: Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. - : Elsevier BV. - 1055-7903 .- 1095-9513. ; 47:3, s. 960-973
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The phylogeny of the avian genus Emberiza and the monotypic genera Latoucheornis, Melophus and Miliaria (collectively the Old World Emberizini), as well as representatives for the New World Emberizini, the circumpolar genera Calcarius and Plectrophertax and the four other generally recognized tribes in the subfamily Emberizinae was estimated based on the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene and introns 6-7 of the nuclear ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) gene. Our results support monophyly of the Old World Emberizini, but do not corroborate a sister relationship to the New World Emberizini. Calcarius and Plectrophenax form a clade separated from the other Emberizini. This agrees with previous studies, and we recommend the use of the name Calcariini. Latoucheornis, Melophus and Miliaria are nested within Emberiza, and we therefore propose they be synonymized with Emberiza. Emberiza is divided into four main clades, whose relative positions are uncertain, although a sister relation between a clade with six African species and one comprising the rest of the species (30, all Palearctic) is most likely. Most clades agree with traditional, morphology-based, classifications. However, four sister relationships within Emberiza, three of which involve the previously recognized Latoucheornis, Melophus and Miliaria, are unpredicted, and reveal cases of strong morphological divergence. In contrast, the plumage similarity between adult male Emberiza (formerly Latoucheornis) siemsseni and the nominate subspecies of the New World Junco hyemalis is shown to be the result of parallel evolution. A further case of parallel plumage evolution, between African and Eurasian taxa, is pointed out. Two cases of discordance between the mitochondrial and nuclear data with respect to branch lengths and genetic divergences are considered to be the result of introgressive hybridization.
|
|
8. |
|
|
9. |
- Cai, Tianlong, et al.
(author)
-
Near-complete phylogeny and taxonomic revision of the world's babblers (Aves: Passeriformes)
- 2019
-
In: Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. - : Elsevier BV. - 1055-7903 .- 1095-9513. ; 130, s. 346-356
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The babblers are a diverse group of passerine birds comprising 452 species. The group was long regarded as a "scrap basket" in taxonomic classification schemes. Although several studies have assessed the phylogenetic relationships for subsets of babblers during the past two decades, a comprehensive phylogeny of this group has been lacking. In this study, we used five mitochondrial and seven nuclear loci to generate a dated phylogeny for babblers. This phylogeny includes 402 species (ca. 89% of the overall clade) from 75 genera (97%) and all five currently recognized families, providing a robust basis for taxonomic revision. Our phylogeny supports seven major clades and reveals several non-monophyletic genera. Divergence time estimates indicate that the seven major clades diverged around the same time (18-20 million years ago, Ma) in the early Miocene. We use the phylogeny in a consistent way to propose a new taxonomy, with seven families and 64 genera of babblers, and a new linear sequence of names.
|
|
10. |
- Cai, Tianlong, et al.
(author)
-
The role of evolutionary time, diversification rates and dispersal in determining the global diversity of a large radiation of passerine birds
- 2020
-
In: Journal of Biogeography. - : Wiley. - 0305-0270 .- 1365-2699. ; 47:7, s. 1612-1625
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Aim: Variation in species diversity among different geographical areas may result from differences in speciation and extinction rates, immigration and time for diversification. An area with high species diversity may be the result of a high net diversification rate, multiple immigration events from adjacent regions, and a long time available for the accumulation of species (known as the 'time-for-speciation effect'). Here, we examine the relative importance of the three aforementioned processes in shaping the geographical diversity patterns of a large radiation of passerine birds. Location: Global. Taxon: Babblers (Aves: Passeriformes). Methods: Using a comprehensive phylogeny of extant species (similar to 90% sampled) and distributions of the world's babblers, we reconstructed their biogeographical history and analysed the diversification dynamics. We examined how species richness correlates with the timing of regional colonization, the number of immigration events and the rate of speciation within all 13 geographical distribution regions. Results: We found that babblers likely originated in the Sino-Himalayan Mountains (SHM) in the early Miocene, suggesting a long time for diversification and species accumulation within the SHM. Regression analyses showed the regional diversity of babblers can be well explained by the timing of the first colonization within of these areas, while differences in rates of speciation or immigration have far weaker effects. Nonetheless, the rapid speciation of Zosterops during the Pleistocene has accounted for the increased diversification and accumulation of species in the oceanic islands. Main Conclusions: Our results suggest that the global diversity patterns of babblers have predominantly been shaped by the time-for-speciation effect. Our findings also support an origin centred in tropical and subtropical parts of the SHM, with a cradle of recent diversification in the oceanic islands of the Indo-Pacific and Indian Ocean regions, which provides new insights into the generation of global biodiversity hotspots.
|
|