The impact of parsimony weighting schemes on inferred relationships among toucans and neotropical barbets (Aves : Piciformes)

Citation
Fk. Barker et Sm. Lanyon, The impact of parsimony weighting schemes on inferred relationships among toucans and neotropical barbets (Aves : Piciformes), MOL PHYL EV, 15(2), 2000, pp. 215-234
Citations number
81
Categorie Soggetti
Biology,"Experimental Biology
Journal title
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION
ISSN journal
10557903 → ACNP
Volume
15
Issue
2
Year of publication
2000
Pages
215 - 234
Database
ISI
SICI code
1055-7903(200005)15:2<215:TIOPWS>2.0.ZU;2-9
Abstract
The development of new schemes for weighting DNA sequence data for phylogen etic analysis continues to outpace the development of consensus on the most appropriate weights. The present study is an exploration of the similariti es and differences between results from 22 character weighting schemes when applied to a study of barbet and toucan (traditional avian families Capito nidae and Ramphastidae) phylogenetic relationships, The dataset comprises c ytochrome b sequences for representatives of all toucan and Neotropical bar bet genera, as well as for several genera of Paleotropical barbets, The 22 weighting schemes produced conflicting patterns of relationship among taxa, often with conflicting patterns each receiving strong bootstrap support. U se of multiple weighting schemes helped to identify the source within the d ataset (codon position, transitions, transversions) of the various putative phylogenetic signals. Importantly, some phylogenetic hypotheses were consi stently supported despite the wide range of weights employed, The use of ph ylogenetic frameworks to summarize the results of these multiple analyses p roved very informative. Relationships among barbets and toucans inferred fr om these data support the paraphyly of the traditional Capitonidae, Additio nally, these data support paraplnyly of Neotropical barbets, but rather tha n indicating a relationship between Semnornis and toucans, as previously su ggested by morphological data, most analyses indicate a basal position of S emnornis within the Neotropical radiation. The cytochrome b data also allow inference of relationships among toucans. Supported hypotheses include Ram phastos as the sister to all other toucans, a close relationship of Baillon ius and Pteroglossus with these two genera as the sister group to an (Andig ena, Selenidera) clade, and the latter four genera as a sister group to Aul acorhynchus. (C) 2000 Academic Press.