Complete mitochondrial genome of Otis tarda (Gruiformes: Otididae) and phylogeny of Gruiformes inferred from mitochondrial DNA sequences

Abstract

The complete nucleotide sequence of mitochondrial genome of the Great bustard (Otis tarda) was determined by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. The genome is 16,849 bp in size, containing 13 protein-coding, 2 ribosomal and 22 transfer RNA genes. Sequences of the tRNA genes can be folded into canonical cloverleaf secondary structure except for tRNA-Cys and tRNA-Ser (AGY), which lose "DHU" arm. Sequence analysis showed that the O. tarda mitochondrial control region (mtCR) contained many elements in common with other avian mtCRs. A microsatellite repeat was found in the 3'-peripheral domain of the O. tarda mtCR. Based on the mitochondrial DNA sequences of 12S rRNA, 16S rRNA and tRNA-Val, a phylogenetic study of Gruiformes was performed. The result showed that Otididae was a sister group to "core Gruiformes" and Charadriiformes with strong support (97% posterior probability values) in Bayesian analysis. The taxonomic status of Rhynochetidae, Mesitornithidae, Pedionomidae and Turnicidae that traditionally belonged to Gruiformes was also discussed in this paper.

Testing the utility of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 sequences for phylogenetic estimates of relationships between crane (Grus) species

“…In our current study, the family Aramidae (e.g., A. guarauna) was embedded in the clade of traditional Gruidae with strong support in the NJ (Figure 3 Figure 6) trees (87% bootstrap values, 50% bootstrap values, 87% bootstrap values, and 0.51 posterior probability values, respectively). The same topology (with Aramidae as a close sister to Gruidae) has been reported in several studies (Fain et al, 2007;Livezey, 1989;Yang et al, 2010b). Livezey (1998) showed that the families Aramidae and Gruidae both belong to the superfamily Gruoidea, but the family Rallidae belongs to the order Ralliformes as opposed to the order Gruiformes.…”

“…Opinions on the systematic relationships of Gruiformes are as diverse as the families included within it. Despite ongoing debate over monophyly of the order and relationships among its various members, recent opinions have converged on the monophyly of a 'core' group of five families classified as the suborder Grues: the rails (Rallidae), the cranes (Gruidae), the limpkins (Aramidae), the trumpeters (Psophiidae), and the finfoots (Heliornithidae) (Hackett et al, 2008;Yang et al, 2010b). A consensus has begun to emerge that there is a monophyletic 'core' consisting of Gruidae, Aramidae, Psophiidae, Heliornithidae, and Rallidae (Fain et al, 2007).…”

“…A consensus has begun to emerge that there is a monophyletic 'core' consisting of Gruidae, Aramidae, Psophiidae, Heliornithidae, and Rallidae (Fain et al, 2007). Based on the mtDNA sequences of 12S rRNA, 16S rRNA, and tRNAVal, (Yang et al, 2010b) reported that Otididae was a sister group to 'core Gruiformes' and Charadriiformes with strong support (97% posterior probability values) in Bayesian analysis. However, Hackett et al (2008) reported that Otididae was outside of the core Gruiformes and included bustards in the order 'Otidiformes'.…”

“…All of these studies focused on species of the Gruidae family. However, classification of the avian order Gruiformes has been one of the least stable in the taxonomic history of birds (Fain et al, 2007;Krajewski et al, 2010;Yang et al, 2010b). Avian systematists have debated their phylogenetic relationships and even whether they constitute a monophyletic assemblage (Livezey, 1998;Sibley and Monroe, 1990).…”

“…Variation in mtDNA sequences has been widely used in intrapopulation and intraspecific phylogenetic analyses of the order Gruiformes (Fain et al, 2007;Krajewski et al, 2010;Yang et al, 2010b) and to assess genetic variation in species (Petersen et al, 2003;Ponomarev et al, 2004). These studies have provided new insights into vertebrate classification and affini-ties, and have enabled vigorous testing of taxonomic schemes.…”