Phylogenetic Position of Avian Nocturnal and Diurnal Raptors

Abstract

We report three new avian mitochondrial genomes, two from widely separated groups of owls and a falcon relative (the Secretarybird). We then report additional progress in resolving Neoavian relationships in that the two groups of owls do come together (it is not just long-branch attraction), and the Secretarybird is the deepest divergence on the Accipitridae lineage. This is now agreed between mitochondrial and nuclear sequences. There is no evidence for the monophyly of the combined three groups of raptors (owls, eagles, and falcons), and again this is agreed by nuclear and mitochondrial sequences. All three groups (owls, accipitrids [eagles], and falcons) do appear to be members of the “higher land birds,” and though there may not yet be full “consilience” between mitochondrial and nuclear sequences for the precise order of divergences of the eagles, falcons, and the owls, there is good progress on their relationships.

Complete mitochondrial genome sequence of the Himalayan Griffon, Gyps himalayensis (Accipitriformes: Accipitridae): Sequence, structure, and phylogenetic analyses

“…In our phylogenetic analysis, the S. serpentarius is deepest on the branch with Pandion haliaetus (Pandionidae) and Accipitridae (Figure ). This result is consistent with some previous studies (Hackett et al, ; Lerner & Mindell, ; Mahmood et al, ). Furthermore, P. haliaetus is the sister to Accipitridae.…”

The complete mitochondrial genome of Accipiter virgatus and evolutionary history of the pseudo-control regions in Falconiformes

“…Consequently, gene order in Falconiformes should not be used as phylogenetic markers. Our results added to the growing body of work indicating that Falconiformes is not a monophyletic group (Hackett et al, 2008;Mahmood et al, 2014).…”

“…The gene order in A. virgatus was identical to most Falconiformes species (Mindell et al, 1998;Asai et al, 2006;Gibb et al, 2007), but differed substantially from that in Cathartidaea (C. aura) and Sagittariidae (Sa. serpentarius) (Slack et al, 2007;Mahmood et al, 2014). Apparently, Falconidae, Accipitridae and Pandionidae share the same gene order which differs from that of other families in Falconiformes.…”

“…It belongs to the genus Accipiter, family Accipitridae with no doubt (Breman et al, 2013). Several studies based on molecular data revealed the phylogenetic relationships within Falconiformes were contentious (Breman et al, 2013;Mahmood et al, 2014). One example is the controversial relationship between Ciconiiformes (i.e., storks and ibises) and Cathartidae (Cathartes aura) (Ericson et al, 2006;Livezey and Zusi, 2007;Hackett et al, 2008).…”

Whole-genome analyses resolve early branches in the tree of life of modern birds

“…Furthermore, complete mitochondrial genome analyses recover different relationships (14, 18) and fail to support higher landbird monophyly [but see (30)]. Some of the differences among studies could arise from gene tree incongruence, possibly due to incomplete lineage sorting (ILS) of those genes (29, 31), nucleotide base composition biases (19), differences between data types (32, 33), or insufficient data (34, 35).…”