PHYLOGENETIC-RELATIONSHIPS OF THE SEA EAGLES (GENUS HALIAEETUS) - RECONSTRUCTIONS BASED ON MORPHOLOGY, ALLOZYMES AND MITOCHONDRIAL-DNA SEQUENCES

The relationships of eight extant species of sea eagles (genus Haliaee tus) and some potentially related Accipitrid genera were investigated. A phylogenetic hypothesis is developed based on morphological charact ers and allozyme data, which is then contrasted with a reconstruction based on 1071 nucleotides of mitochondrial DNA (cytochrome b and part of one tRNA gene). Phylogenies derived from the three data sets are la rgely congruent, although several aspects are supported by only one ki nd of evidence (but not contradicted by the others). Only with regard to the position of south-east Asian H. leucogaster and its closely rel ated sister species H. sanfordi was there conflict between allozyme an d mtDNA data. The position of H. pelagicus relative to H. leucoryphus or H. albicilla/leucocephalus could not be resolved with the mtDNA seq uence data, suggesting that some speciation events occurred in relativ ely quick succession during the early Pliocene or late Miocene periods . Available evidence suggests that extant sea eagles originated at tro pical latitudes, the northernmost species appearing most derived.