AVIS-IBIS

Birds of Indian Subcontinent

Mitochondrial phylogeny of Locustella and related genera

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:2004
Authors:Drovetski, SV, Zink, RM, Fadeev, IV, Nesterov, EV, Koblik, EA, Red'kin, YA, Rohwer, S
Journal:Journal of Avian Biology
Volume:35
Issue:2
Date Published:2004
ISBN Number:1600-048X
Keywords:Bradypterus, Locustella, Locustella amnicola, Locustella certhiola, Locustella naevia, Locustella pryeri, Locustellidae, Megalurus, Megalurus gramineus, Megalurus pryeri, Poodytes gramineus, Sphenoeacus afer, Threnetria naevia
Abstract:We used maximum likelihood analysis of complete mitochondrial ND2 sequences (1041 bp) to clarify the taxonomy and relationships of various species and genera of grass and bush warblers. The tree revealed two clades of grass and bush warblers. One clade was comprised of all four western Palearctic Locustella and two species of Asian Bradypterus. The other clade included five eastern Palearctic Locustella (including the distinctive Sakhalin warbler Locustella amnicola) and the marsh grassbird Megalurus pryeri. African Bradypterus and Australian little grassbird Megalurus gramineus were distantly related to their Asian congeners. Therefore, current taxonomy of these genera does not reflect their evolutionary history and needs revision. It is proposed that a phylogenetic analysis of morphology and ecological preferences would show that the current taxonomy of grass and bush warblers reflects species’ habitat preferences and morphology related to locomotion and foraging in their habitats, rather than their shared ancestry. Distinct clades were found in grasshopper warbler Locustella naevia and Pallas's grasshopper warbler L. certhiola. Detailed phylogeographic studies are needed to elucidate the species status of the clades within these two species.
URL:http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.0908-8857.2004.03217.x
Short Title:Journal of Avian Biology
Taxonomic name: 
Locustella (Birds), Locustella certhiola (Birds), Locustella naevia (Birds), Locustellidae (Birds), Megalurus (Birds)
Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith