Molecular Biology and Evolution, Vol 14, 325-343, Copyright © 1997 by Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution
R Bleiweiss, JA Kirsch and JC Matheus
The spectacular evolutionary radiation of hummingbirds (Trochilidae) has
served as a model system for many biological studies. To begin to provide a
historical context for these investigations, we generated a complete matrix
of DNA hybridization distances among 26 hummingbirds and an outgroup swift
(Chaetura pelagica) to determine the principal hummingbird lineages. FITCH
topologies estimated from symmetrized delta TmH-C values and subjected to
various validation methods (bootstrapping, weighted jackknifing, branch
length significance) indicated a fundamental split between hermit
(Eutoxeres aquila, Threnetes ruckeri; Phaethornithinae) and nonhermit
(Trochilinae) hummingbirds, and provided strong support for six principal
nonhermit clades with the following branching order: (1) a predominantly
lowland group comprising caribs (Eulampis holosericeus) and relatives
(Androdon aequatorialis and Heliothryx barroti) with violet-ears (Colibri
coruscans) and relatives (Doryfera ludovicae); (2) an Andean-associated
clade of highly polytypic taxa (Eriocnemis, Heliodoxa, and Coeligena); (3)
a second endemic Andean clade (Oreotrochilus chimborazo, Aglaiocercus
coelestis, and Lesbia victoriae) paired with thorntails (Popelairia
conversii); (4) emeralds and relatives (Chlorostilbon mellisugus, Amazilia
tzacatl, Thalurania colombica, Orthorhyncus cristatus and Campylopterus
villaviscensio); (5) mountain-gems (Lampornis clemenciae and Eugenes
fulgens); and (6) tiny bee-like forms (Archilochus colubris, Myrtis fanny,
Acestrura mulsant, and Philodice mitchellii). Corresponding analyses on a
matrix of unsymmetrized delta values gave similar support for these
relationships except that the branching order of the two Andean clades (2,
3 above) was unresolved. In general, subsidiary relationships were
consistent and well supported by both matrices, sometimes revealing
surprising associations between forms that differ dramatically in plumage
and bill morphology. Our results also reveal some basic aspects of
hummingbird ecologic and morphologic evolution. For example, most of the
diverse endemic Andean assemblage apparently comprises two genetically
divergent clades, whereas the majority of North American hummingbirds
belong a single third clade. Genetic distances separating some
morphologically distinct genera (Oreotrochilus, Aglaiocercus, Lesbia;
Myrtis, Acestrura, Philodice) were no greater than among congeneric
(Coeligena) species, indicating that, in hummingbirds, morphological
divergence does not necessarily reflect level of genetic divergence.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
DNA hybridization evidence for the principal lineages of hummingbirds (Aves:Trochilidae)
Department of Zoology, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53706, USA. reb@ravel.zoology.wisc.edu
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