"Tapping the woodpecker tree for evolutionary insight" by Subir B. Shakya, Jérôme Fuchs et al.

Faculty Publications

Title

Tapping the woodpecker tree for evolutionary insight

Authors

Subir B. Shakya, Department of Biological Sciences and Museum of Natural Science, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA. Electronic address: sshaky6@lsu.edu.
Jérôme Fuchs, Département Systématique et Evolution, UMR7205 Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité CNRS MNHN UPMC EPHE, Sorbonne Universités, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CP51, 57 rue Cuvier, F-75231 Paris Cedex 05, France.
Jean-Marc Pons, Département Systématique et Evolution, UMR7205 Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité CNRS MNHN UPMC EPHE, Sorbonne Universités, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CP51, 57 rue Cuvier, F-75231 Paris Cedex 05, France.
Frederick H. Sheldon, Department of Biological Sciences and Museum of Natural Science, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-1-2017

Abstract

Molecular phylogenetic studies of woodpeckers (Picidae) have generally focused on relationships within specific clades or have sampled sparsely across the family. We compared DNA sequences of six loci from 203 of the 217 recognized species of woodpeckers to construct a comprehensive tree of intrafamilial relationships. We recovered many known, but also numerous unknown, relationships among clades and species. We found, for example, that the three picine tribes are related as follows (Picini, (Campephilini, Melanerpini)) and that the genus Dinopium is paraphyletic. We used the tree to analyze rates of diversification and biogeographic patterns within the family. Diversification rate increased on two occasions during woodpecker history. We also tested diversification rates between temperate and tropical species but found no significant difference. Biogeographic analysis supported an Old World origin of the family and identified at least six independent cases of New World-Old World sister relationships. In light of the tree, we discuss how convergence, mimicry, and potential cases of hybridization have complicated woodpecker taxonomy.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

Molecular phylogenetics and evolution

First Page

182

Last Page

191

Recommended Citation

Shakya, S. B., Fuchs, J., Pons, J., & Sheldon, F. H. (2017). Tapping the woodpecker tree for evolutionary insight. Molecular phylogenetics and evolution, 116, 182-191. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2017.09.005

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