Probing evolutionary patterns in neotropical birds through DNA barcodes.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The Neotropical avifauna is more diverse than that of any other biogeographic region, but our understanding of patterns of regional divergence is limited. Critical examination of this issue is currently constrained by the limited genetic information available. This study begins to address this gap by assembling a library of mitochondrial COI sequences, or DNA barcodes, for Argentinian birds and comparing their patterns of genetic diversity to those of North American birds.

Methodology and principal findings

Five hundred Argentinian species were examined, making this the first major examination of DNA barcodes for South American birds. Our results indicate that most southern Neotropical bird species show deep sequence divergence from their nearest-neighbour, corrob

SUBMITTER: Kerr KC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2632745 | biostudies-literature | 2009

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature