The updated phylogenies of the phasianidae based on combined data of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA

PLoS One. 2014 Apr 18;9(4):e95786. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0095786. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

The phylogenetic relationships of species in the Phasianidae, Order Galliformes, are the object of intensive study. However, convergent morphological evolution and rapid species radiation result in much ambiguity in the group. Further, matrilineal (mtDNA) genealogies conflict with trees based on nuclear DNA retrotransposable elements. Herein, we analyze 39 nearly complete mitochondrial genomes (three new) and up to seven nuclear DNA segments. We combine these multiple unlinked, more informative genetic markers to infer historical relationships of the major groups of phasianids. The nuclear DNA tree is largely congruent with the tree derived from mt genomes. However, branching orders of mt/nuclear trees largely conflict with those based on retrotransposons. For example, Gallus/Bambusicola/Francolinus forms the sister-group of Coturnix/Alectoris in the nuclear/mtDNA trees, yet the tree based on retrotransposable elements roots the former at the base of the tree and not with the latter. Further, while peafowls cluster with Gallus/Coturnix in the mt tree, they root at the base of the phasianids following Gallus in the tree based on retrotransposable elements. The conflicting branch orders in nuclear/mtDNA and retrotransposons-based trees in our study reveal the complex topology of the Phasianidae.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Coturnix
  • DNA, Mitochondrial*
  • Datasets as Topic
  • Galliformes / classification*
  • Galliformes / genetics*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Phylogeny*
  • Retroelements*

Substances

  • DNA, Mitochondrial
  • Retroelements

Associated data

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Grants and funding

This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (30621092). R. W. Murphy was supported by a Visiting Professorship for Senior International Scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and manuscript preparation was supported by a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Discovery Grant A3148. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.