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New Study On Birds May Ruffle Scientists’ Feathers

Posted on: Friday, 27 June 2008, 06:05 CDT

Researchers on Thursday said the largest study of bird genetics in history has uncovered some startling facts that could ruffle a few feathers in the avian evolutionary tree.

The study found falcons share many similarities to hawks and eagles, but they are not as closely related as previously thought. Even vibrant hummingbirds, which buzz around during daytime, evolved from a drab-looking nocturnal bird called a nightjar.

Researchers say even parrots and songbirds are closer cousins than once thought.

The new findings are opposite of several widely held views and challenge many assumptions about bird family relationships. Researchers even suggest many biology textbooks and bird-watchers' field guides may need to be changed.

"One of the lessons we've learned is appearances seem to be very deceiving," said Sushma Reddy of Chicago's Field Museum of Natural History, whose study appears in the journal Science.

"Things that are quite different-looking sometimes end up being related," she said.

Reddy and colleagues examined the genetic sequences of 169 bird species in an effort to distinguish family relationships in the avian family tree.

Scientists believe birds, evolved from small-feathered carnivorous dinosaurs which roamed the Earth 150 million years ago.

"Modern birds as we know them evolved really rapidly, probably within a few million years, into all of the forms we see. That happened 65 to 100 million years ago," Reddy said.

The study said these fast-paced changes have made it hard for the scientific community to pin down the evolution of birds. Dozens of previous studies have resulted in conflicting data.

"We didn't have a good sense of how any of these major bird groups were related to each other," said Reddy, who worked with researchers at several other labs.

"We've tried to represent all of the major groups of birds and all of the major lineages," Reddy said.

The study findings suggest birds can be grouped broadly. Areas include land birds, like the sparrow; water birds, like the penguin; and shore birds, like the seagull.

But there are many questions surrounding these groupings.

For example, flamingos-known for their love of water- and some other aquatic birds did not evolve from water birds. Instead, the study concludes they simply adapted to life on water. Also puzzling: some flightless birds are grouped with birds that fly.

Reddy acknowledges the findings are likely to come under fire, and even flap up debate in many circles. However, she maintains she is confident in the findings.

"I think a good study brings up as many questions as it answers," she said."

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On the Net:

Field Museum of Natural History

Science

Source: redOrbit Staff & Wire Reports

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