title: Phylogenetic relationships within Passerida (Aves: Passeriformes): a review and a new molecular phylogeny based on three nuclear intron markers.
abstract: The avian clade Passerida was first identified based on DNA-DNA hybridization data [C.G. Sibley, J.E. Ahlquist, Phylogeny and Classification of Birds, 1990, Yale University Press, New Haven, CT]. Monophyly of the Passerida, with the exception of a few taxa, has later been corroborated in several studies; however, the basal phylogenetic relationships have remained poorly understood. In this paper, we review the current knowledge of the phylogenetic relationships within Passerida and present a new phylogeny based on three nuclear introns (myoglobin intron 2, ornithine decarboxylase introns 6 and 7, as well as beta-fibrinogen intron 5). Our findings corroborate recent molecular hypotheses, but also identify several hitherto unrecognized relationships.
authors.affiliation: DST/NRF Centre of Excellence at the Percy FitzPatrick Institute, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, Cape Town, South Africa. ulf.johansson@nrm.se
authors.forename: Ulf S
authors.initials: US
authors.lastname: Johansson
authors.forename: Jon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fjeldså
authors.forename: Rauri C K
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Bowie
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001499:Bayes Theorem; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism*; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000235:genetics; D007438:Introns; D008957:Models, Genetic; D009211:Myoglobin / Q000235:genetics; D009955:Ornithine Decarboxylase / Q000235:genetics; D046109:Passeriformes / Q000235:genetics*; D010802:Phylogeny
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D009211:Myoglobin; D005340:Fibrinogen; D009955:Ornithine Decarboxylase