Presentation Detail

Systematics and Inferred Phylogenies

Mahmood, Muhammad Tariq [1], McLenachan, Patricia [1], Gibb, Gillian [2], Penny, David [1].

Phylogenetic position of avian nocturnal and diurnal raptors.

There has been a good progress in resolving some issues about the relationships of modern birds. There is agreement from nuclear and from mitochondrial datasets that the Palaeognaths form a natural group, and that tinamous are nested within ratites. For the other division, Neognaths, there is also agreement that thechicken and duck relatives (Galloanseriformes) are the next division. That still leaves the major group of birds as Neoaves, and here there is still less certainty about basic divisions. We are particularly interested in the group of raptors, both diurnal (e.g. falcons and eagles) and nocturnal (owls). Ideally we hope for consilience between nuclear sequences, mitochondrial (mt) sequences,and rare genomic changes (e.g. retroposons). To build on previous phylogenies, there are still questions left to be answered regarding raptors. One of our questions is whether the nocturnal raptors (owls) join with the either group of the diurnal raptors, together or combined (Falconidae and Accipitridae). Secondly, the two owl mt genomes at the moment (Tyto and Ninox) do come together, but quite deeply, and could even be the result of long branch attraction. So, our second question would be whether or not the two groups ofowls are genuinely monophyletic. Our third question is whether all raptor groups are monophyletic that is part of a long history of debate on their relationship. We report three new mitochondrial genomes to help resolve these issues, Athene brama (a classic owl), Phodilus badius (a barn owl), and Sagittarius serpentarius (secretarybird). We find that the owls do form a natural group, and that the secretarybird is deepest in Accipitridae. However, we find no good evidence that all raptors are monophyletic unless there is reversion to non-raptor behaviour in several groups.

1 - Massey University, Institute of Fundamental Sciences, Palmerston North, New Zealand
2 - Massey University, Institute of Agriculture and Environment, Palmerston North, New Zealand

Keywords:
secretarybird
Neoaves
phylogeny
raptors
mitochondrial DNA
Falconidae
Accipitridae
owls.

Presentation Type: Regular Oral Presentation
Session: 128
Location: Rendezvous B/Snowbird Center
Date: Tuesday, June 25th, 2013
Time: 8:30 AM
Number: 128001
Abstract ID:828
Candidate for Awards:Ernst Mayr Award,W.D. Hamilton Award for Outstanding Student Presentation,Student Travel Awards from the ASN