کد مقاله | کد نشریه | سال انتشار | مقاله انگلیسی | نسخه تمام متن |
---|---|---|---|---|
5919999 | 1164278 | 2013 | 8 صفحه PDF | دانلود رایگان |

The pelicans are a charismatic group of large water birds, whose evolutionary relationships have been long debated. Here we use DNA sequence data from both mitochondrial and nuclear genes to derive a robust phylogeny of all the extant species. Our data rejects the widespread notion that pelicans can be divided into white- and brown-plumaged groups. Instead, we find that, in contrast to all previous evolutionary hypotheses, the species fall into three well-supported clades: an Old World clade of the Dalmatian, Spot-billed, Pink-backed and Australian Pelicans, a New World clade of the American White, Brown and Peruvian Pelicans, and monospecific clade consisting solely of the Great White Pelican, weakly grouped with the Old World clade. We discuss possible evolutionary scenarios giving rise to this diversity.
Highlights⺠We investigate the phylogenetic relationships of the extant pelicans. ⺠We use mitochondrial and nuclear genes to derive a robust phylogeny of the species. ⺠We reject the notion that they can be divided into white- and brown-plumaged groups. ⺠We discuss possible evolutionary scenarios giving rise to the current diversity. ⺠We discuss the taxonomic implications of the tree topology.
Journal: Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution - Volume 66, Issue 1, January 2013, Pages 215-222