鸟类具有较强的迁移能力，能够对气候变迁和地质变化做出快速反应。杨晓君课题组应用多基因数据的研究结果显示，传统分类观点认定的斑翅鹛属(Actinodura)和钩嘴鹛属(Pomatorhinus)均为并系群，提示东亚鸟类进化历史复杂，可能经历了适应环境的趋异进化。结合形态资料，两个属的分类地位得到了修正，分别被拆分为形态差异显著的两个属。斑翅鹛属内部存在南北分化，并向东西扩张格局，生态资料提示这一格局可能是同域生态位分化后发生地理替代的结果。钩嘴鹛及其近缘类群的进化过程中，喙的变异呈现不连续性，该类群的祖先起源于中新世气候适宜期，随后的物种分化均与一系列气候事件相对应，这种格局很可能是适应性进化的结果。上述研究提示由于东亚复杂的地形和地质历史，鸟类区系的演化历史也相对复杂。（生物谷Bioon.com）
生物谷推荐原文出处：
Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2010.09.023
Molecular systematics and diversification of the Asian scimitar babblers (Timaliidae, Aves) based on mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences
Feng Donga, Shou-Hsien Lib, , and Xiao-jun Yanga, ,
a State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China
b Department of Life Science, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei 116, Taiwan
Abstract
The Asian scimitar babblers, including the genus Pomatorhinus and Xiphirhynchus, are a small group of babblers characterized by long down-curved bills and a distribution throughout East and Southeast Asia. To infer the molecular phylogeny of this group and their divergence time, we examined sequences of multiple fragments including two entire mitochondrial genes and four nuclear introns (4352 bp in total) from multiple samples of eight of the nine recognized species of Asian scimitar babblers. The phylogeny resulting from the concatenated multi-locus dataset suggests that Pomatorhinus is paraphyletic. Due to its paraphyly, we propose dividing the traditional genus Pomatorhinus into two morphologically and genetically diagnosable genera: Pomatorhinus and Erythrogenys. Results of the molecular dating based on the conventional mitochondrial DNA divergence rate indicates that the diversification of these babblers is likely congruent with the historical climatic events. Our findings shed light on the diversification of avian species in southern Asia, a poorly studied biodiversity hotspot.
原文链接
Molecular Phylogeny of the Barwings (Aves: Timaliidae: Actinodura), a Paraphyletic Group, and Its Taxonomic Implications
