Phylogenetic relationships of finches and allies based on nuclear and mitochondrial DNA.
The complete mitochondrial gene cytochrome b in combination with a nuclear gene, beta-fibrinogen intron 7, is sequenced for different groups of mostly granivorous species in the superfamily Passeroidea, with a focus on the estrildids and fringillids. From our study we can conclude that within the group of granivorous finches two clades can be distinguished, the estrildid weaver clade and the cardueline, fringillid, emberizid, passerine sparrow clade. In contrast to many other studies the passerine sparrows are not placed within the weavers estrildid clade which is in agreement with other recent studies (e.g., ). Our study also shows that the estrildids do form a monophyletic group, but there is a division based on geographic origin: an African group and an Asian-Australian group. Within the Fringillidae the Fringilla species are the sister group of the carduelines.
Van der Meij
M A A
MA
Department of Evolutionary Morphology, Institute of Biology, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9516, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands. meij@rulsfb.leidenuniv.nl <meij@rulsfb.leidenuniv.nl>
de Bakker
M A G
MA
Bout
R G
RG
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000235:genetics*; D045303:Cytochromes b / Q000235:genetics; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000235:genetics; D046369:Finches / Q000235:genetics*; D014644:Genetic Variation; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000235:genetics*; D010802:Phylogeny; D016415:Sequence Alignment
D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D005340:Fibrinogen; D045303:Cytochromes b