title: Diversification of Neoaves: integration of molecular sequence data and fossils.
abstract: Patterns of diversification and timing of evolution within Neoaves, which includes almost 95% of all bird species, are virtually unknown. On the other hand, molecular data consistently indicate a Cretaceous origin of many neoavian lineages and the fossil record seems to support an Early Tertiary diversification. Here, we present the first well-resolved molecular phylogeny for Neoaves, together with divergence time estimates calibrated with a large number of stratigraphically and phylogenetically well-documented fossils. Our study defines several well-supported clades within Neoaves. The calibration results suggest that Neoaves, after an initial split from Galloanseres in Mid-Cretaceous, diversified around or soon after the K/T boundary. Our results thus do not contradict palaeontological data and show that there is no solid molecular evidence for an extensive pre-Tertiary radiation of Neoaves.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vertebrate Zoology and Molecular Systematics Laboratory, Swedish Museum of Natural History, PO Box 50007, 10405 Stockholm, Sweden. per.ericson@nrm.se
authors.forename: Per G P
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Ericson
authors.forename: Cajsa L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Britton
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Elzanowski
authors.forename: Ulf S
authors.initials: US
authors.lastname: Johansson
authors.forename: Mari
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Källersjö
authors.forename: Jan I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Ohlson
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Parsons
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zuccon
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mayr
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001499:Bayes Theorem; D001717:Birds / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D002965:Classification / Q000379:methods; D005580:Fossils; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D013997:Time Factors