Phylogeny and phylogenetic classification of the antbirds, ovenbirds, woodcreepers, and allies (Aves: Passeriformes: infraorder Furnariides)

Abstract

The infraorder Furnariides is a diverse group of suboscine passerine birds comprising a substantial component of the Neotropical avifauna. The included species encompass a broad array of morphologies and behaviours, making them appealing for evolutionary studies, but the size of the group (ca. 600 species) has limited well-sampled higher-level phylogenetic studies. Using DNA sequence data from the nuclear RAG-1 and RAG-2 exons, we undertook a phylogenetic analysis of the Furnariides sampling 124 (more than 88%) of the genera. Basal relationships among family-level taxa differed depending on phylogenetic method, but all topologies had little nodal support, mirroring the results from earlier studies in which discerning relationships at the base of the radiation was also difficult. In contrast, branch support for family-rank taxa and for many relationships within those clades was generally high. Our results support the Melanopareidae and Grallariidae as distinct from the Rhinocryptidae and Formicariidae, respectively. Within the Furnariides our data contradict some recent phylogenetic hypotheses and suggest that further study is needed to resolve these discrepancies. Of the few genera represented by multiple species, several were not monophyletic, indicating that additional systematic work remains within furnariine families and must include dense taxon sampling. We use this study as a basis for proposing a new phylogenetic classification for the group and in the process erect new family-group names for clades having high branch support across methods.

A review of nest and egg descriptions for the genus Myrmeciza, with the first description of nests and eggs of the dull-mantled antbird (M. laemosticta)

“…The nest of M. atrothorax is known only from a cursory description of one nest in Zimmer and Isler (2003) but appears to generally fit within this nest-group. It appears, however, to share an affinity for thin-bladed leaves (i.e., sedges, grasses, rather than dicots) with the Stripe-backed Antbird (Myrmorchilus strigilatus; Caziani and Protomastro 1991), to which molecular data suggest atrothorax is closely related (Bravo 2012;Brumfield et al 2007;Gómez et al 2010;Moyle et al 2009). Although the nest architecture of exsul is clearly most similar to that of the above-mentioned ferruginea clade, genetic evidence places it as basal to species building rim-suspended nests (see below for a discussion of this).…”

“…Recent molecular studies (Brumfield et al 2007;Irestedt et al 2004;Moyle et al 2009), along with a growing number of nest descriptions, however, have revealed the now widely accepted view that Myrmeciza is polyphyletic (Bravo 2012;Remsen et al 2013;Ridgely and Tudor 1994;Zimmer and Isler 2003). Records of nest architecture and egg coloration within Myrmeciza are, in some cases, unclear or disputed and are scattered throughout the literature, making it difficult to synthesized current knowledge.…”

Phylogeny and historical biogeography of gnateaters (Passeriformes, Conopophagidae) in the South America forests

“…In total we included 14 of the 18 recognized subspecies of genus Conopophaga (Whitney, 2003). Melanopareia maranonica was used as outgroup following Moyle et al (2009).…”

“…Therefore, they were likely limited by the distribution of flat and hydrologically unstable depositional landscapes of the Amazonian floodplains. The family was long defined to comprise only the genus Conopophaga (Whitney, 2003), but recent molecular phylogenies have placed Pittasoma (formerly Formicariidae) as sister to this genus (Moyle et al, 2009;Ohlson et al, 2013;Rice, 2005). Thus, Conopophagidae currently comprises two genera and ten species (Remsen et al, 2013) that live in the understorey of humid forests (Ridgely and Tudor, 1994).…”

Reflections on the Phylogenetic Position and Generic Status of Abbott's Booby 'Papasula abbotti' (Aves, Sulidae)

“…Nevertheless, due to several reasons, but overall because of the subjectivity of the Linnaean hierarchical system and its lack of adherence to the evolutionary paradigm, classifications did not follow the fast pace of systematics in late 20 th century [3][4][5][6]. In ornithology, for example, despite earlier efforts by authors like Cracraft [7,8], the strict use of cladograms in proposing classifications has become a standard only in the last 10-15 years [9][10][11].…”