Artikel-Suche

Liebers-Helbig, D.

Die «molekulare Revolution» und ihre Folgen für die ornithologisch-taxonomische Forschung.

2013

110

257–269

Key words
(von 1994 bis 2006 vergeben)

Evolution, Phylogenie, Taxonomie, Systematik, Molekulargenetik, Gene, DNA

Schlagwort_Vogelart
(wissenschaftlich)

Pernis apivorus, Milvus migrans, Milvus milvus, Circaetus gallicus, Circus aeruginosus, Circus cyaneus, Circus pygargus, Accipiter gentilis, Accipiter nisus, Buteo buteo, Aquila chrysaetos, Aquila pennata, Aquila fasciata, Larus ichthyaetus, Larus ridibundus, Rhodostethia rosea und, Hydrocoloeus minutus, Creagrus furcatus, Rissa tridactyla, Pagophila eburnea, Xema sabini, Acrocephalus aedon, Chloropeta natalensis, Chloropeta similis, Hippolais caligata, Hippolais rama, Hippolais pallida, Hippolais opaca, Hippolais polyglotta, Hippolais icetrina, Hippolais languida, Hippolais olivetorum

Schlagwort_Vogelart
(deutsch)

Wespenbussard, Schwarzmilan, Rotmilan, Schlangenadler, Rohrweihe, Kornweihe, Wiesenweihe, Habicht, Sperber, Mäusebussard, Steinadler, Zwergadler, Habichtsadler, Fischmöwe, Lachmöwe, Rosenmöwe, Zwergmöwe, Gabelschwanzmöwe, Dreizehenmöwe, Elfenbeinmöwe, Schwalbenmöwe, Dickschnabelrohrsänger, Schnäpperrohrsänger, Bambusrohrsänger, Buschspötter, Steppenspötter, Blassspötter, Isabellspötter, Orpheusspötter, Gelbspötter, Dornspötter, Olivenspötter

deutsch

Abhandlung

The molecular revolution and its consequences for ornithological research. – For the understanding and interpretation of molecular phylogenies it is important to understand and critically question the underlying gene trees, because a gene tree merely depicts the history of a gene or DNA segment, but not necessarily the history of the respective species tree. An approximation to the species tree can be reached only by a combined reconstruction of several independent gene trees. Based on three examples the use and pitfalls of molecular methods for ornithological taxonomy will be illustrated. Within the birds of prey (Accipitriformes) the analysis of seven independent genes and intron sequences yielded surprising results: The genus Aquila is not monophyletic in its traditional delimitation but instead demands the inclusion of Bonelli’s Eagle, Hawk-Eagle and eight further genera. The genus Accipiter also is not monophyletic but divides into four distinct species groups. However, a revision of the genus appears difficult, because the Harriers are closely related to one of the Accipiter sub-groups. The currently accepted phylogeny of gulls (Laridae), rearranged on the basis of premature molecular data, seems not plausible anymore. After increasing the amount of sequenced data the genus Larus appears monophyletic again, hence the splitting into several genera should be withdrawn. The oldest, basal groups of gulls, still separated from the genus Larus, includes such diverse species as Little Gull and Ross’s Gull, Kittiwake as well as Ivory Gull and Sabine’s Gull. Within the reed warblers (Acrocephalidae) the analysis of four sequenced genes showed that the four traditional genera are not monophyletic. The Acrocephalus Warblers form three distinct groups of the same ancestry, while the Thick-billed Warbler is excluded from the genus. The Hippolais and Chloropeta Warblers also present no reciprocal monophyletic groups, leading to a revision of the respective genera Hippolais, Iduna and Calamonastides. The examples given illustrate how difficult it is to interpret the wide array of recently published molecular studies. This is especially challenging for all ornithologists who are indeed interested in phylogeny, but are not familiar with the vast variety of molecular methods. The common reader of a publication cannot assess the plausibility of the presented phylogeny. Therefore it is always advisable to question whether the trees are in concordance with morphological, acoustical and biogeographical features of the respective group.