Morphological convergence in conifer-dwelling passerines |
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| Authors: | Fränzi Korner-Nievergelt and B Leisler |
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| Institution: | (1) Zoological Museum, University Zurich, Winterthurerstr. 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland;(2) Forschungsstelle für Ornithologie der Max-Planck Gesellschaft, Vogelwarte Radolfzell, 78315 Radolfzell, Germany |
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| Abstract: | We tested for morphological convergence in conifer specialists among 88 passerines belonging to seven different phylogenetic lineages by discriminant factor analysis. We found a parallel trend among the seven lineages in body mass and digital pad morphology, whereas no such trends existed for the feeding and flight apparatus. Compared to the control species, the conifer specialists have smaller body masses and higher digital pads with maximal widths lying more distally within each of the seven lineages. These traits are interpreted as adaptations to dwelling among coniferous needles.Communicated by: F. Bairlein |
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| Keywords: | Coniferous specialists Ecomorphology Morphological convergence Multivariate analysis Passerines |
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