Inter-familial relationships of the shorebirds (Aves: Charadriiformes) based on nuclear DNA sequence data.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Phylogenetic hypotheses of higher-level relationships in the order Charadriiformes based on morphological data, partly disagree with those based on DNA-DNA hybridisation data. So far, these relationships have not been tested by analysis of DNA sequence data. Herein we utilize 1692 bp of aligned, nuclear DNA sequences obtained from 23 charadriiform species, representing 15 families. We also test earlier suggestions that bustards and sandgrouses may be nested with the charadriiforms. The data is analysed with methods based on the parsimony and maximum-likelihood criteria.

Results

Several novel phylogenetic relationships were recovered and strongly supported by the data, regardless of which method of analysis was employed. These include placing the gulls and allied g

SUBMITTER: Ericson PG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC184354 | biostudies-literature | 2003 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature