Morphological evidence for sister group relationship between flamingos (Aves: Phoenicopteridae) and grebes (Podicipedidae)

A recent molecular analysis strongly supported sister group relationship between flamingos (Phoenicopteridae) and grebes (Podicipedidae), a hypothesis which has not been suggested before. Flamingos are long-legged filter-feeders whereas grebes are morphologically quite divergent foot-propelled diving birds, and sister group relationship between these two taxa would thus provide an interesting example of evolution of different feeding strategies in birds. To test monophyly of a clade including grebes and flamingos, I performed a cladistic analysis of 70 morphological characters which were scored for 17 taxa. Parsimony analysis of these data supported monophyly of the taxon (Podicipedidae + Phoenicopteridae) and the clade received high bootstrap support. Previously overlooked morphological, oological and parasitological evidence is recorded which supports this hypothesis, and which makes the taxon (Podicipedidae + Phoenicopteridae) one of the best supported higher-level clades within modern birds. The phylogenetic significance of some fossil flamingo-like birds is discussed. The Middle Eocene taxon Juncitarsus is most likely the sister taxon of the clade (Podicipedidae + (Palaelodidae + Phoenicopteridae)) although resolution of its exact systematic position awaits revision of the fossil material. Contrary to previous assumptions, it is more parsimonious to assume that flamingos evolved from a highly aquatic ancestor than from a shorebird-like ancestor.  © 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2004, 140 , 157–169.     

The Eocene Juncitarsus – its phylogenetic position and significance for the evolution and higher-level affinities of flamingos and grebes

The Early Eocene Juncitarsus was described as one of the earliest fossil flamingos, and played a critical role in the hypothesis of a charadriiform origin of Phoenicopteriformes. It has been noted that phoenicopteriform affinities of Juncitarsus conflict with the recently proposed sister group relationship between flamingos and the morphologically very divergent grebes (Podicipediformes), but a detailed assessment of the evolutionary significance of Juncitarsus in light of this new hypothesis has not yet been performed. Here, the affinities of Juncitarsus are reviewed, and its position as sister group of the clade (Phoenicopteriformes + Podicipediformes) is affirmed. The osteology of Juncitarsus suggests that swimming adaptations evolved in the stem lineage of this latter clade after the divergence of Juncitarsus. Charadriiformes remain among the candidate taxa for the closest extant relatives of flamingos and grebes, but more data are needed for well-supported phylogenetic hypotheses.     

The impact of feeding by Chilean flamingos (Phoenicopterus chilensis) on the meiofaunal assemblage of a tidal flat

The impact on the meiofaunal assemblage of the bioturbation caused by Chilean Flamingos (Phoenicopterus chilensis) feeding on the tidal flat at Caulín, southern Chile was investigated. The flamingos walk in circles in shallow water, moving their feet up and down in order to suspend the sediment which is then filtered through the lamellae in their beaks in order to capture their prey. Which component of the benthos the flamingos are targeting has yet to be unequivocally determined. Meiofauna are one potential food source as they are extremely abundant at the site and the filtering capacity of the flamingos could potentially retain meiofauna. Two possible hypotheses concerning the impact of flamingo feeding activity on the meiofaunal assemblage were tested: hypothesis 1 that the flamingos are feeding on the meiofaunal assemblage, and hypothesis 2 that the flamingos are displacing the meiofaunal assemblage over short distances. Meiofaunal samples were collected on four occasions (autumn, winter, spring and summer) using a randomized block design to include four levels of bioturbation: centre, ring, border and undisturbed. Meiofaunal abundances increased in sediment processed by the flamingos compared with adjacent unperturbed sediment. The results support hypothesis 2 that the flamingos are displacing the meiofauna and not feeding on them. Thus, the impact of flamingo feeding activity on the meiofaunal assemblage at Caulín is to increase small scale spatial (<1?m) heterogeneity in a background distribution that is already significantly heterogeneous.     

Skeletal morphology and the phylogeny of skuas (Aves: Charadriiformes,Stercorariidae)

The skuas (Aves: Charadriiformes, Stercorariidae) consist of two assemblages. On the basis of size, plumage, and distributional similarities, each of the two assemblages has long been considered monophyletic, and this traditional hypothesis has commonly been manifested in the recognition of two genera, Stercorarius and Catharacta; conversely, more recently collected molecular and ectoparasite evidence yields an alternative hypothesis, in which one member of Stercorarius, Stercorarius pomarinus, is more closely related to the forms in Catharacta than to the other Stercorarius sp. In this study we used skeletal morphology to test the competing hypotheses of skua phylogeny. Cladistic analysis of 141 osteological characters provided strong support for the molecular/ectoparasite hypothesis. However, those skeletal data did not support a sister‐taxon relationship between S. pomarinus and Catharacta skua, as inferred from mitochondrial DNA sequence data; instead, they resolved pomarinus as the sister of a monophyletic Catharacta. Additionally, our skeletal evidence did not support a sister‐group relationship between skuas and auks, as constraining skua/auk monophyly increased the tree length by nearly 5%. © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2009, 157 , 612–621.     

The deep divergences of neornithine birds: a phylogenetic analysis of morphological characters

Consensus is elusive regarding the phylogenetic relationships among neornithine (crown clade) birds. The ongoing debate over their deep divergences is despite recent increases in available molecular sequence data and the publication of several larger morphological data sets. In the present study, the phylogenetic relationships among 43 neornithine higher taxa are addressed using a data set of 148 osteological and soft tissue characters, which is one of the largest to date. The Mesozoic non‐neornithine birds Apsaravis, Hesperornis, and Ichthyornis are used as outgroup taxa for this analysis. Thus, for the first time, a broad array of morphological characters (including both cranial and postcranial characters) are analyzed for an ingroup densely sampling Neornithes, with crown clade outgroups used to polarize these characters. The strict consensus cladogram of two most parsimonious trees resultant from 1000 replicate heuristic searches (random stepwise addition, tree‐bisection‐reconnection) recovered several previously identified clades; the at‐one‐time contentious clades Galloanseres (waterfowl, fowl, and allies) and Palaeognathae were supported. Most notably, our analysis recovered monophyly of Neoaves, i.e., all neognathous birds to the exclusion of the Galloanseres, although this clade was weakly supported. The recently proposed sister taxon relationship between Steatornithidae (oilbird) and Trogonidae (trogons) was recovered. The traditional taxon “Falconiformes” (Cathartidae, Sagittariidae, Accipitridae, and Falconidae) was not found to be monophyletic, as Strigiformes (owls) are placed as the sister taxon of (Falconidae + Accipitridae). Monophyly of the traditional “Gruiformes” (cranes and allies) and ”Ciconiiformes” (storks and allies) was also not recovered. The primary analysis resulted in support for a sister group relationship between Gaviidae (loons) and Podicipedidae (grebes)—foot‐propelled diving birds that share many features of the pelvis and hind limb. Exclusion of Gaviidae and reanalysis of the data set, however, recovered the sister group relationship between Phoenicopteridae (flamingos) and grebes recently proposed from molecular sequence data.     

Origins of species richness in the Indo‐Malay‐Philippine biodiversity hotspot: evidence for the centre of overlap hypothesis

The Indo‐Malay‐Philippine (IMP) biodiversity hotspot, bounded by the Philippines, the Malay Peninsula and New Guinea, is the epicentre of marine biodiversity. Hypotheses to explain the source of the incredible number of species found there include the centre of overlap hypothesis, which proposes that in this region the distinct faunas of the Pacific and Indian Oceans overlap. Here we review the biogeographical evidence in support of this hypothesis. We examined tropical reef fish distributions, paying particular attention to sister species pairs that overlap in the IMP hotspot. We also review phylogeographical studies of wide‐ranging species for evidence of lineage divergence and overlap in the IMP region. Our synthesis shows that a pattern of isolation between the Pacific and the Indian Ocean faunas is evident across a wide range of taxa. The occurrence of sister species, with one member in each ocean, indicates that the mechanism(s) of isolation has been in effect since at least the Miocene, while phylogeographical studies indicate more recent divergences in the Pleistocene. Divergence in isolation followed by population expansion has led to an overlap of closely related taxa or genetic lineages in the hotspot, contributing to diversity and species richness in the region. These findings are consistent with the centre of overlap hypothesis and highlight the importance of this process in generating biodiversity within the IMP.     

A phylogenetic analysis of basal Anseriformes, the fossil Presbyornis, and the interordinal relationships of waterfowl

A phylogenetic analysis of 123 morphological characters of basal waterfowl (Aves: Anseriformes) and other selected avian orders confirmed that the screamers (Anhimae: Anhitn-idae) are the sister-group of other waterfowl (Anseres), and that the magpie goose (Anseranatidae: Anseranas semipalmata) is the sister group of other modern waterfowl exclusive of screamers (Anatidae sensu stricto). The analysis also supports the traditional hypothesis of the gallinaceous birds (Galliformes) as the sister group of the Anseriformes. Presbyornis, a fossil from the early Eocene of Wyoming and averred by Olson & Feduccia as showing that the Anseriformes were derived from shorebirds (Charadriiformes), was found to represent the sister group of the Anatidae. Associated hypotheses by Olson & Feduccia concerning the implications of Presbyornis for the phylogenetic relationships of flamingos (Phoenicopteriformes), the position of the Anhimidae within the waterfowl, relationships among modern Anatidae, and a plausible evolutionary scenario for waterfowl also are rejected. Analyses revealed that cranial characters were critical to the establishment of the Galliformes as the sister group of the Anseriformes; exclusion of the Anhimidae, especially in combination with Anseranas, also undermined the support for this inference. Placement of Presbyornis as the sister group of the Anatidae casts doubt on the role suggested by Feduccia of ‘transitional shorebirds' in the origin of modern avian orders, and calls into question the concept of ‘fossil mosaics’. The phylogenetic hypothesis is used to reconstruct an evolutionary scenario for selected ecomorphological characters in the galliform-anseriform transition, to predict the most parsimonious states of these characters for Presbyornis, and to propose a phylogenetic classification of the higher-order taxa of waterfowl. This re-examination of Presbyornis also is used to exemplify the fundamental methodological shortcomings of the intuitive approach to the reconstruction of phylogenetic relationships.     

Synergistic effects of combining morphological and molecular data in resolving the phylogeny of butterflies and skippers

Phylogenetic relationships among major clades of butterflies and skippers have long been controversial, with no general consensus even today. Such lack of resolution is a substantial impediment to using the otherwise well studied butterflies as a model group in biology. Here we report the results of a combined analysis of DNA sequences from three genes and a morphological data matrix for 57 taxa (3258 characters, 1290 parsimony informative) representing all major lineages from the three putative butterfly super-families (Hedyloidea, Hesperioidea and Papilionoidea), plus out-groups representing other ditrysian Lepidoptera families. Recently, the utility of morphological data as a source of phylogenetic evidence has been debated. We present the first well supported phylogenetic hypothesis for the butterflies and skippers based on a total-evidence analysis of both traditional morphological characters and new molecular characters from three gene regions (COI, EF-1alpha and wingless). All four data partitions show substantial hidden support for the deeper nodes, which emerges only in a combined analysis in which the addition of morphological data plays a crucial role. With the exception of Nymphalidae, the traditionally recognized families are found to be strongly supported monophyletic clades with the following relationships: (Hesperiidae+(Papilionidae+(Pieridae+(Nymphalidae+(Lycaenidae+Riodinidae))))). Nymphalidae is recovered as a monophyletic clade but this clade does not have strong support. Lycaenidae and Riodinidae are sister groups with strong support and we suggest that the latter be given family rank. The position of Pieridae as the sister taxon to nymphalids, lycaenids and riodinids is supported by morphology and the EF-1alpha data but conflicted by the COI and wingless data. Hedylidae are more likely to be related to butterflies and skippers than geometrid moths and appear to be the sister group to Papilionoidea+Hesperioidea.     

Phylogenetic relationships of flesh flies in the subfamily Sarcophaginae based on three mtDNA fragments (Diptera: Sarcophagidae)

In an effort to improve our knowledge of the phylogenetic relationships among species and genera of the subfamily Sarcophaginae, we analysed data from three mitochondrial gene fragments. Sequence data for portions of the genes cytochrome oxidase I (COI), cytochrome oxidase II (COII) and dehydrogenase subunit 4 (ND4) were obtained from 43 species of Sarcophagidae representing 15 genera. We used a Bayesian approach to simultaneously choose how best to partition the data and which substitution model to apply to each partition. Phylogenetic relationships were inferred using Bayesian Inference and Maximum Likelihood methods. Our results are consistent with monophyly of the subfamily Sarcophaginae (posterior probability 1; bootstrap support 93%), as well as with monophyly of several genera within the Sarcophaginae (including Sarcophaga s.l.; posterior probability 1; bootstrap support 97%). We found support for a sister‐group relationship between Ravinia Robineau‐Desvoidy and Oxysarcodexia Townsend, which has been hypothesised by past authors on the basis of morphological similarities, although this was supported only in the Bayesian analyses (posterior probability 0. 81–0. 98), and for some novel supra‐generic clades. Contrary to a recent morphological hypothesis, we do not find Helicobia Coquillett to be nested within Sarcophaga Meigen; our data suggest, but do not strongly support, a hypothesis that Peckia Robineau‐Desvoidy is the sister group to Sarcophaga.     

The trans-Pacific zipper effect: disjunct sister taxa and matching geological outlines that link the Pacific margins

Aim To combine analyses of trans‐Pacific sister taxa with geological evidence in order to test the hypothesis of the existence of a Panthalassa superocean. Location The study is concerned with taxa, both fossil and extant, from East Asia, Australia, New Zealand, South America and North America. Methods Phylogenetic and distributional analyses of trans‐Pacific biota were integrated with geological evidence from the Pacific and circum‐Pacific regions. Results A series of recent biogeographical analyses delineates a zipper‐like system of sister areas running up both margins of the Pacific, with each section of western North and South America corresponding to a particular section from East Asia/Australia/New Zealand. These sister areas coincide neatly with a jigsaw‐like fit provided by the matching Mesozoic coastlines that bracket the Pacific. Main conclusions The young age (<200 Myr) of oceanic crust, the matching Mesozoic circum‐Pacific outlines, and a corresponding system of interlocking biogeographical sister areas provide three independent avenues of support for a closed Pacific in the Upper Triassic–Lower Jurassic. The hypothesis of the existence and subsequent subduction of the pre‐Pacific superocean Panthalassa is not only unnecessary, it conflicts with this evidence. Panthalassa‐based paleomaps necessitate the invention of dozens of additional hypotheses of species‐dependent, trans‐oceanic dispersal events, often involving narrow‐range taxa of notoriously limited vagility, in order to explain repeated examples of the same biogeographical pattern. Removing the vanished‐superocean hypothesis reunites both the matching geological outlines and all the disjunct sister taxa. In brief, what appears to be a multi‐era tangle of convoluted, trans‐oceanic distributions on Panthalassa‐based paleomaps is actually a relatively simple biogeographical pattern that is explainable by a single vicariant event: the opening and expansion of the Pacific.     

Vigilance in Greater Flamingos Wintering in Southern Tunisia: Age-Dependent Flock Size Effect

Decrease in individual vigilance with flock size is a widely recognized pattern in group‐living species. However such a relationship may be affected by other factors, such as age and flock composition. For instance, because young animals generally lack experience and have higher nutritional needs than adults, they can be expected not only to be less vigilant than adults but also to decrease their vigilance level by a greater extent when flock size increases than adults do. We investigated this issue using data on greater flamingos wintering in the gulf of Gabès, in southern Tunisia. Flamingos tended to congregate in small single‐age flocks for feeding, but as flock size increased, flocks became mixed. We found that when flock size increased, young flamingos significantly decreased their vigilance time, while adult did not, suggesting an age‐dependent flock size effect on vigilance. However, when flock composition (single‐age vs. mixed) was taken into account, a more complex pattern was found. Within single‐age and small flocks, no difference was found between young flamingos and adult ones regarding their vigilance level and their response to increasing flock size. However, within mixed and large flocks, adult flamingos were more vigilant than young ones, while variation in flock size did not result in a significant change in vigilance. These results suggest that young birds relied on the presence of adults, and hence more experienced individuals in detecting dangers, to reduce their vigilance and to increase their foraging time in order to satisfy their higher nutritional requirements. They could also be interpreted as a possible consequence of increasing competition with flock size which constrained more nutritionally stressed young flamingos to increase their foraging time to the detriment of vigilance.     

Phylotranscriptomics resolves ancient divergences in the Lepidoptera

Classic morphological studies of the oldest, so‐called nonditrysian lineages of Lepidoptera yielded a well‐resolved phylogeny, supported by the stepwise origin of the traits characterizing the clade Ditrysia, which contains over 98% of extant lepidopterans. Subsequent polymerase chain reaction (PCR)‐based molecular studies have robustly supported many aspects of the morphological hypothesis and strongly contradicted others, while leaving some relationships unsettled. Here we bring the greatly expanded gene sampling of RNA‐Seq to bear on nonditrysian phylogeny, especially those aspects that were not conclusively resolved by the combination of morphology and previous PCR‐based multi‐gene studies. We analysed up to 2212 genes in each of 28 species representing all 12 superfamilies and 15 of 21 families of nonditrysians, plus trichopteran outgroups and representative Ditrysia. Our maximum likelihood phylogeny estimates used both nonsynonymous changes only (degen1 coding) and all nucleotides (nt123) partitioned by codon position, recovering a novel hypothesis for early glossatan relationships that is the most strongly supported to date. We find strong support for Micropterigidae alone as the sister group to all other Lepidoptera, in agreement with morphology and early molecular evidence, but in contrast to recent PCR‐based studies. Also very strongly supported are the previously recognized clades Angiospermivora, Heteroneura, Eulepidoptera and Euheteroneura. Finally, we find strong support for paraphyly of the southern hemisphere family Palaephatidae, with the South American genus Palaephatus Butler forming the previously undetermined sister group to Ditrysia. The remaining palaephatids, Australian and South American, form the sister group to Tischeriidae.     

Cladistic analysis of Neuroptera and their systematic position within Neuropterida (Insecta: Holometabola: Neuropterida: Neuroptera)

A phylogenetic analysis of Neuroptera using thirty‐six predominantly morphological characters of adults and larvae is presented. This is the first computerized cladistic analysis at the ordinal level. It included nineteen species representing seventeen families of Neuroptera, three species representing two families (Sialidae and both subfamilies of Corydalidae) of Megaloptera, two species representing two families of Raphidioptera and as prime outgroup one species of a family of Coleoptera. Ten equally most parsimonious cladograms were found, of which one is selected and presented in detail. The results are discussed in light of recent results from mental phylogenetic cladograms. The suborders Nevrorthi‐ formia, Myrmeleontiformia and Hemerobiiformia received strong support, however Nevrorthiformia formed the adelphotaxon of Myrmeleontiformia + Hemerobiiformia (former sister group of Myrmeleontiformia only). In Myrmeleontiformia, the sister‐group relationships between Psychopsidae + Nemopteridae and Nymphidae + (Myrmeleontidae + Ascalaphidae) are corroborated. In Hemerobiiformia, Ithonidae + Polystoechotidae is confirmed as the sister group of the remaining families. Dilaridae + (Mantispidae + (Rhachiberothidae + Berothidae)), which has already been proposed, is confirmed. Chrysopidae + Osmylidae emerged as the sister group of a clade comprising Hemerobiidae + ((Coniopterygidae + Sisyridae) + (dilarid clade)). Despite the sister‐group relationship of Coniopterygidae + Sisyridae being only weakly supported, the position of Coniopterygidae within the higher Hemerobiiformia is corroborated. At the ordinal level, the analysis provided clear support for the hypothesis that Megaloptera + Neuroptera are sister groups, which upsets the conventional Megaloptera + Raphidioptera hypothesis.     

Cenozoic mystery birds – on the phylogenetic affinities of bony‐toothed birds (Pelagornithidae)

Mayr, G. (2011) Cenozoic mystery birds – on the phylogenetic affinities of bony‐toothed birds (Pelagornithidae). —Zoologica Scripta, 40, 448–467. The extinct Cenozoic bony‐toothed birds (Pelagornithidae) are characterized by the occurrence of unique spiky projections of the osseous jaws and are among the most distinctive neornithine taxa. Earlier authors considered these marine birds to be most closely related to ‘Pelecaniformes’ or Procellariiformes, but recent phylogenetic analyses resulted in a sister group relationship to Anseriformes. This latter hypothesis was, however, coupled with a non‐monophyly of galloanserine or even neognathous birds, which is not supported by all other current analyses. The character evidence for anseriform affinities of pelagornithids is thus reassessed, and it is detailed that the alleged apomorphies cannot be upheld. Pelagornithids lack some key apomorphies of galloanserine birds, and analysis of 107 anatomical characters did not support anseriform affinities, but resulted in a sister group relationship between Pelagornithidae and Galloanseres. By retaining a monophyletic Galloanseres, this result is in better accordance with widely acknowledged hypotheses on the higher‐level phylogeny of birds. The (Pelagornithidae + Galloanseres) clade received, however, only weak bootstrap support, and some characters, such as the presence of an open frontoparietal suture, may even support a position of Pelagornithidae outside crown‐group Neognathae.     

Phylogeny and evolution of the Australo-Papuan honeyeaters (Passeriformes, Meliphagidae)

We analyzed nucleotide variation at four loci for 75 species to produce a phylogenetic hypothesis for the Meliphagidae, and to examine the evolution and biogeographic history of the Meliphagidae. Both maximum parsimony and Bayesian methods of phylogenetic analysis were employed. The family was found to be monophyletic, though the genera Certhionyx, Anthochaera, and Phylidonyris were not. Four major clades were recovered and the spinebills (Acanthorhynchus) formed the sister clade to the remainder of the family in most analyses. The Australian endemic arid-adapted chats (Epthianura, Ashbyia) were found to be nested deeply within the family Meliphagidae. No evidence was found to support the hypothesis of separate New Guinean and Australian endemic radiations, nor of a close phylogenetic relationship between taxa from the New Guinea highlands and those from Australian northern rainforests.     

Evolution of green lacewings (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae): a molecular supermatrix approach

We present a time‐calibrated phylogeny of the charismatic green lacewings (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae). Previous phylogenetic studies on the family using DNA sequences have suffered from sparse taxon sampling and/or limited amounts of data. Here we combine all available previously published DNA sequence data and add to it new DNA sequences generated for this study. We analysed these data in a supermatrix using Bayesian and maximum likelihood methods and provide a phylogenetic hypothesis for the family that recovers strong support for the monophyly of all subfamilies and resolves relationships among a large proportion of chrysopine genera. Chrysopinae tribes Leucochrysini and Belonopterygini were recovered as monophyletic sister clades, while the species‐rich tribe Chrysopini was rendered paraphyletic by Ankylopterygini. Relationships among the subfamilies were resolved, although with relatively low statistical support, and the topology varied based on the method of analysis. Greatest support was found for Apochrysinae as sister to Nothochrysinae and Chrysopinae, which is in contrast to traditional concepts that place Nothochrysinae as sister to the rest of the family. Divergence estimates suggest that the stem groups to the various subfamilies diverged during the Triassic‐Jurassic, and that stem groups of the chrysopine tribes diverged during the Cretaceous.     

A new timeframe for the diversification of Japan’s mammals

Aim The main Japanese islands are land‐bridge islands divided by the biogeographic division Blakiston’s Line and represent two natural laboratories for studying land‐bridge diversification. Colonization of the current mammal fauna has been dated to the middle to late Pleistocene using fossil evidence. The purpose of this paper is to apply a molecular clock to the genetic divergences between Japanese mammalian taxa and their sister mainland taxa to test the late Pleistocene land‐bridge colonization hypothesis. Location The main Japanese islands (Kyushu, Shikoku, Honshu and Hokkaido). Methods I used mitochondrial DNA (cytochrome b) and a species tree approach to estimate the divergence times of 24 Japanese non‐volant terrestrial mammal taxa and their mainland sister taxa using the program *beast . I then tested for evidence of non‐simultaneous divergence among these taxon‐pairs by controlling for expected coalescent stochasticity using the program Ms Bayes . Results Divergence events between taxa on Japan and their mainland sister taxa were significantly older than expected under the current paradigm, which is based on fossil data. Consistent with the land‐bridge colonization hypothesis, there was evidence of multiple divergence events. Main conclusions These results implicate a colonization timeframe that is older than posited by the current paradigm based on fossil evidence. However, these results are still consistent with the land‐bridge colonization hypothesis. Multiple periods of land‐bridge connectivity may account for the current mammalian fauna in Japan. In addition, half of the divergence time estimates in the Honshu–Shikoku–Kyushu region were clumped around 2.4 Ma, which might suggest a dramatic interchange period, concordant with a period of significant global cooling, when the first land bridge may have connected Japan to the mainland.     

Mycobacteriosis in the lesser flamingos of Lake Nakuru, Kenya.

In 1974, 51 debilitated lesser flamingos (Phoeniconaias minor) were easily captured at Lake Nakuru, Kenya. Nineteen (37%) of these had extensive mycobacterial lesions. Two years later it was difficult to locate any debilitated flamingos and no evidence of mycobacterial infection was found. Possible reasons for the high prevalence of mycobacteriosis in the 1974 collection are discussed.     

400 million years on six legs: On the origin and early evolution of Hexapoda

Identifying the unambiguous sister group to the hexapods has been elusive. Traditional concepts include the Myriapoda (the Tracheata/Atelocerata hypothesis), but recent molecular studies consistently indicate it is the Crustacea, either in part or entirety (the Pancrustacea/Tetraconata hypothesis). The morphological evidence in support of Tracheata is reviewed, and most features are found to be ambiguous (i.e., losses, poorly known and surveyed structures, and probable convergences), though some appear to be synapomorphic, such as tentorial structure and the presence of styli and eversible vesicles. Other morphological features, particularly the structure of the eyes and nervous system, support Pancrustacea, as does consistent molecular evidence (which is reviewed and critiqued). Suggestions are made regarding hexapod–crustacean limb homologies. Relationships among basal (apterygote) hexapods are reviewed, and critical Paleozoic fossils are discussed. Despite the scarceness of Devonian hexapods, major lineages like Collembola and even dicondylic Insecta appeared in the Early Devonian; stem-group and putative Archaeognatha are known from the Carboniferous through Permian and the Late Devonian, respectively. Thus, the earliest divergences of hexapods were perhaps Late Silurian, which is considerably younger than several estimates made using molecular data.     

The phylogeny of the superfamily Coccoidea (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha) based on the morphology of extant and extinct macropterous males

Currently, 49 families of scale insects are recognised, 33 of which are extant. Despite more than a decade of DNA sequence‐based phylogenetic studies of scales insects, little is known with confidence about relationships among scale insects families. Multiple lines of evidence support the monophyly of a group of 18 scale insect families informally referred to as the neococcoids. Among neococcoid families, published DNA sequence‐based estimates have supported Eriococcidae paraphyly with respect to Beesoniidae, Dactylopiidae, and Stictococcidae. No other neococcoid interfamily relationship has been strongly supported in a published study that includes exemplars of more than ten families. Likewise, no well‐supported relationships among the 15 extant scale insect families that are not neococcoids (usually referred to as ‘archaeococcoids’) have been published. We use a Bayesian approach to estimate the scale insect phylogeny from 162 adult male morphological characters, scored from 269 extant and 29 fossil species representing 43/49 families. The result is the most taxonomically comprehensive, most resolved and best supported estimate of phylogenetic relationships among scale insect families to date. Notable results include strong support for (i) Ortheziidae sister to Matsucoccidae, (ii) a clade comprising all scale insects except for Margarodidae s.s., Ortheziidae and Matsucoccidae, (iii) Coelostomidiidae paraphyletic with respect to Monophlebidae, (iv) Eriococcidae paraphyletic with respect to Stictococcidae and Beesoniidae, and (v) Aclerdidae sister to Coccidae. We recover strong support for a clade comprising Phenacoleachiidae, Pityococcidae, Putoidae, Steingeliidae and the neococcoids, along with a sister relationship between this clade and Coelostomidiidae + Monophlebidae. In addition, we recover strong support for Pityococcidae + Steingeliidae as sister to the neococcoids. Data from fossils were incomplete, and the inclusion of extinct taxa in the data matrix reduced support and phylogenetic structure. Nonetheless, these fossil data will be invaluable in DNA sequence‐based and total evidence estimates of phylogenetic divergence times.