TY - JOUR
T1 - Whole-genome analyses resolve early branches in the tree of life of modern birds
AU - Sicheritz-Pontén, Thomas
AU - Li, Cai
AU - Li, Bo
AU - Munch, Kasper
AU - Schierup, Mikkel H
AU - Bertelsen, Mads Frost
AU - Fjeldsa, Jon
AU - Jønsson, Knud Andreas
AU - Wang, Jun
AU - Willerslev, Eske
AU - Petersen, Bent
PY - 2014
Y1 - 2014
N2 - To better determine the history of modern birds, we performed a genome-scale phylogenetic analysis of 48 species representing all orders of Neoaves using phylogenomic methods created to handle genome-scale data. We recovered a highly resolved tree that confirms previously controversial sister or close relationships. We identified the first divergence in Neoaves, two groups we named Passerea and Columbea, representing independent lineages of diverse and convergently evolved land and water bird species. Among Passerea, we infer the common ancestor of core landbirds to have been an apex predator and confirm independent gains of vocal learning. Among Columbea, we identify pigeons and flamingoes as belonging to sister clades. Even with whole genomes, some of the earliest branches in Neoaves proved challenging to resolve, which was best explained by massive protein-coding sequence convergence and high levels of incomplete lineage sorting that occurred during a rapid radiation after the Cretaceous-Paleogene mass extinction event about 66 million years ago.
AB - To better determine the history of modern birds, we performed a genome-scale phylogenetic analysis of 48 species representing all orders of Neoaves using phylogenomic methods created to handle genome-scale data. We recovered a highly resolved tree that confirms previously controversial sister or close relationships. We identified the first divergence in Neoaves, two groups we named Passerea and Columbea, representing independent lineages of diverse and convergently evolved land and water bird species. Among Passerea, we infer the common ancestor of core landbirds to have been an apex predator and confirm independent gains of vocal learning. Among Columbea, we identify pigeons and flamingoes as belonging to sister clades. Even with whole genomes, some of the earliest branches in Neoaves proved challenging to resolve, which was best explained by massive protein-coding sequence convergence and high levels of incomplete lineage sorting that occurred during a rapid radiation after the Cretaceous-Paleogene mass extinction event about 66 million years ago.
U2 - 10.1126/science.1253451
DO - 10.1126/science.1253451
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 25504713
SN - 0036-8075
VL - 346
SP - 1320
EP - 1331
JO - Science
JF - Science
IS - 6215
ER -