Diversification of Neoaves: integration of molecular sequence data and fossils.
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.
Ericson
Per G P
PG
Department of Vertebrate Zoology and Molecular Systematics Laboratory, Swedish Museum of Natural History, PO Box 50007, 10405 Stockholm, Sweden. per.ericson@nrm.se
Anderson
Cajsa L
CL
Britton
Tom
T
Elzanowski
Andrzej
A
Johansson
Ulf S
US
Källersjö
Mari
M
Ohlson
Jan I
JI
Parsons
Thomas J
TJ
Zuccon
Dario
D
Mayr
Gerald
G
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