1. ADVANCED LEC 08 ORNITHOLOGY University of Rio Grande Donald P. Althoff, Ph.D. Systematics Part I Reference Chapter 3

2. Systematics = _______________ the history of life Systematists evaluate evolutionary relationships by evaluating… a) __________________ b) __________________ c) __________________ d) …and increasingly the ___________________ By looking at DNA sequences…and comparing them… we have had made “changes” in the evolutionary relationships of birds…we have “_____________________________” (see next 2 slides)

3. Hackett et al. (18 authors). 2008. A Phylogenomic Study of Birds Reveals Their Evolutionary History. Science 320(5884):1763-1768 The three columns at the tips indicate three previously published taxonomic classifications. Those with black text are monophyletic taxa in this new study, while those with white text are paraphyletic. The different colored lineages indicate various clades that are supported by this new study (e.g., green indicates land birds, blue are water birds, etc

4. Modern Bird Phylogenetic Trees Paleognathae Neognathae

5. Speciation Once projected that __________ about __________ species. This means roughly 1 in 10 species is now with us. Remember, we are past the “Age of Birds” How do we get “more” species? * by becoming _________________ How can populations become isolated? * by ____________________ * by ___________ islands (oceanic or terrestrial)

6. Fragmentation created by habitat isolation Modern Day distributions (ranges) Gill Fig 3-2 (pg54)

7. Fragmentation created by habitat isolation Pre-modern day – Phase I distributions (ranges)

8. Fragmentation created by habitat isolation Moving to modern day – Phase II distributions (ranges) Note: overtime, as rainforest _________________ the individual populations had sufficient time to become genetically “separated” …resulting in speciation

9. Other Types of Evidence: Behavior, Vocalizations, Proteins, Plumage Patterns, etc. Example: _______________ patterns of down young shorebirds (Gill Fig 3-7) Gill Fig 3-7 (pg60)

10. Other Types of Evidence…con’t : _____ arrangements Gill Fig 3-8 (pg61)

11. Back to Phylogenies based on DNA evidence…. Even for species in the same order: Owls: Strigiformes there is considerable “branching” Gill Fig 3-12 (67)

12. Overview of ORDERS (and some Families) All bird orders end in ___________ currently ___ orders of birds All bird families end in __________ over 230 “recognized” families All bird subfamilies end in _________

13. APTERYGIFORMES Kiwis “________________”; hidden by body feathers _________ sternum Single family, 3 species, all found in New Zealand Feed at night, on worms Well-defined _________________ Poor eye sight High mortality via road kill Nest in burrows, feet good for digging 1 egg, weighs about _____ of her body weight Male incubates…_______ days! Precoccial young…although young stay in nests a few days

14. STRUTHIONIFORMES Ostrich -- 1 species __________ of all birds Only bird with ___ toes Males – 300 lbs, 6 ft tall ______ sternum; wings used to shade eggs Sexual dimorphism Can out run a horse 3-4 years to reach sexual maturity Polygamous—all females put eggs in _____ nest, male helps considerable Poorly developed vocalizations

15. RHEIFORMES Rhea 2 species Greater (American) & Lesser (Darwin’s) South America ____ toes 60-70 lbs, ostrich-like appearance (and closely related to the ostrich) Found in temperate climate Polygamous—all lay eggs in _____ nest; up to 120 eggs in a single nest ________—have flat bill Males: loud, booming noise Females: mute

16. CASUARIIFORMES Emus—savannah in Australia Cassowaries—forest dwellers in Australia & New Guinea

17. 3 toes; prolonged toe used in defense Large, _________________ for pushing through heavy brush Bare, tendent skin on neck (wattle) Wings—primaries reduced to _____ _______ No marked dimorphism Highly precoccial young; young stripped apparently acts as disruptive coloration Cassowary

18. VOLANT SPECIES

19. TINAMIFORMES Tinamous…47 species “Ancient” group of modern birds Close relatives of ratites even though they have keel on their sternum Very secretive, little studied About quail-sized Found in Mexico, Central America, and South America All species: well-developed voices Eggs colorful & smooth Monogamous (?) ______ incubate eggs Precoccial young

20. PODICIPEDIFORMES Grebes…~22 species World-wide distribution Toes with lobed structures

21. PODICIPEDIFORMES…con’t Legs ______ back in body, tail feathers hard to distinguish _______ divers—awkward on land Fish make-up large part of diet, have sharp bill for capturing fish Can fly but takes considerable “____” to get airborne

22. PODICIPEDIFORMES…con’t Monogamous…with ___________ pair bond Downy young: strongly __________ strips common among this order Young ride on back of adults Temperate zones Common to our area: ________________

23. GAVIIFORMES Loons 5 species Feet _________—excellent divers No sexual dimorphism Both sexes: melodious voices…low Sharp, stout bill Occupy ______ lakes Need large area to take off and land

24. GAVIIFORMES…con’t Monogamous 2 eggs/chicks normal When not on nest, cover with _________ vegetation which generates heat…they spend a lot of time off the nest Nest “sort of” on “water” Chicks ride on back of adult Dive to depths of _______!!!! they blow air out of their lungs and flatten their feathers to expel air within their plumage

25. SPHENISCIFORMES Penguins 17 species ___________ hemisphere Wings—but flightless. Flipper-like Palmate feet, _____________ Eyes adapted for seeing _________…but poor vision on land/ice

26. SPHENISCIFORMES…con’t Monogamous a) “_____________” virtually b) pairs go back to ________ nest site Start nesting in winter; 60 day incubation period Some may “freeze” to-death on the nest Young: downy Subject to few predators… thus, long-lived (~ 20 years typical) Swim very fast, swim like a porpoise Feed on fish and crustaceans

27. AdelieAfrican Chinstrap Emperor Erect-crested Fiordland Galapagos Gentoo Humbolt King Little (blue) Marcaroni Magellanic Rockhopper Royal PENGUINS

28. Yellow-eyed Snares What’s common among species? 1)_____ throughout chest & belly 2)_____ beak

29. Little Penguin

30. PROCELLARIFORMES Tubenoses (associated with salt gland): Albatross, petrels Spend all their time at sea—except when hatched and during courtship Largest wing span: 11 ft (albatross); best soarers, as noted before “very light” birds Monogamous; breed at 5-6 years old Long-lived (over 50 years for some) Low reproductive rate Feed on fish and other animals that are found close to the surface

31. PELECANIFORMES Pelicans 8 species ___________ feet – great for swimmers…all 4 toes __________ Considered “ancient” species group Most very large - 25-30 lbs ___________ of flying birds (as in lots of flying) Eat fish – put in pouch

32. PELECANIFORMES…con’t Breeding males—some species—have bill “bump” Nest and rear young in ___________ Young totally naked at birth (aka altrical) Monogamous Feed young by ___________________ When feeding “drops” into sea/ lake/etc….vs. skimming

33. CICONIFORMES Herons & storks (but ____ cranes) Largely wading and perching birds Feed on animals (fish, crayfish, etc.) Very pointed beaks for those that spear Flatten beaks for those that “clap” along water surface

34. CICONIFORMES…con’t Nests usually in trees Many species are _________ nesters Young altricial

35. Black-crowned night heron Green heron

36. PHOENICOPTERIFORMES Flamingos 6 “recognized” species Palmate feet _______ on beak edge, beak _____________

37. PHOENICOPTERIFORMES…con‘t Pink somewhere on body— result of ___________! Highly colonial…nests on sandbars/mudbars Nursery called a “_______” Young precoccial and do some feeding on their own early on after hatching