DOCSLIB.ORG

Estimating Evolutionary Rates Using Discrete Morphological Characters: a Case

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Estimating Evolutionary Rates Using Discrete Morphological Characters: a Case Estimating evolutionary rates using discrete morphological characters: a case study with birds Luke Barrett Harrison Department of Biology McGill University, Montreal April 2013 A thesis submitted to McGill University in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy © Luke Harrison 2013 DEDICATION I dedicate this thesis to my wife, Soo Bin Chun. I would not have been able to do it without you nor would I have wanted to. semper fidelis & love always TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT / RÉSUMÉ 1 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 5 PREFACE 7 GENERAL INTRODUCTION 10 CHAPTER 1: Estimating Evolutionary Rates of Discrete Morphological Characters Introduction 14 Rates of Phenotypic Evolution 15 Traits, Characters, and Discrete Morphological Characters 16 Heterogeneity in Rates Between Discrete Morphological Characters in Phylogenetic Analysis 18 Absolute Rates of Evolution of Discrete Morphological Characters 20 Westoll (1949) 22 Forey (1988) 22 Cloutier (1991) 23 Wagner (1997) 23 Bromham et al. (2002) 24 Ruta et al. (2006) 24 Brusatte et al. (2008) 25 Roelants et al. (2011) 25 Lloyd et al. (2012) 27 Summary of Previous Methods and Future Directions 28 Appropriate Null Models 28 Likelihood-based Methods for Estimating Morphological Evolutionary Rates: Potential Advantages 29 An Ideal Model-based Framework for Estimating Absolute Rates of Evolution of Discrete Morphological Characters 30 Conclusions 31 CONNECTING TEXT 32 CHAPTER 2: Among-Character Rate Variation in Phylogenetic Analysis of Discrete Morphological Characters: Prevalence and Bayesian Model Selection Introduction 33 Materials and Methods Data Sets 35 Bayesian Analysis 36 Topology Comparisons 40 Parsimony-based Estimation of Rate Distributions 40 Optimal Number of Discrete Rate Categories 41 Focal Phylogenetic Analysis 42 Results Equal Rates Models and Unequal Rates Models 43 Gamma and Lognormal Rate Distributions 43 Parsimony Analysis 45 Optimal Number of Discrete Rate Categories 45 Effect on Phylogenetic Topology and Branch Lengths: Sidlauskas and Vari (2008) 46 Discussion Rate Heterogeneity in Data Sets of Discrete Morphological Characters 46 Gamma and Lognormal Rate Distributions 47 Optimal Number of Discrete Rate Categories 49 Effects on Estimations of Phylogenetic Topology 51 Alternative Approaches to Model ACRV 53 Conclusions 54 Figures 56 Tables 70 Appendices 73 CONNECTING TEXT 86 CHAPTER 3: Embracing Uncertainty: A Distribution of Evolutionary Timescales for Modern Bird Lineages Introduction 87 Materials and Methods 90 Sequence Data 91 Phylogenetic Analysis 92 Divergence Time Analysis 93 Comparisons with the Jetz et al. (2012) Distribution of Chronograms 94 Results and Discussion Phylogenetic Analysis 95 Divergence Time Analysis 96 Comparisons to Other Divergence Time Studies – Higher-Level Divergences 99 Comparison to Jetz et al. (2012) – Lower Level Divergences 100 Implications for Avian Evolution 101 Conclusions 102 Figures 104 Tables 108 Supplementary Methodology 122 Supplementary Figures 150 Appendices 156 CONNECTING TEXT 220 CHAPTER 4: Estimating Absolute Rates of Evolution using Discrete Morphological Characters across an Uncertain Phylogeny: Rates of Anatomical Evolution in Modern Birds Introduction 221 Materials and Methods 225 Morphological Data 225 Chronogram Distributions 226 Reconstruction of Morphological Evolution 226 Estimating Rates of Evolution: MCC Chronograms 227 Estimating Rates of Evolution: Chronogram Distributions 228 Rates of Evolution of Monophyletic Clades 229 Visualizing and Testing Absolute Rates of Evolution Through Time 231 Aggregate Morphological and Molecular Rates Through Time 232 Results Among-character Rate Heterogeneity and Partition Testing 233 Rates of Evolutionary Change on MCC Trees 233 Rates of Evolution of Focal Clades 235 Absolute Rates of Evolutionary Change Through Time 236 Correlation Test for the Early-Burst Hypothesis 238 Discussion Modular Evolution in the Livezey and Zusi (2007) Data Set 239 Estimating Rates of Evolution of Discrete Morphological Characters 241 Implications for the Evolution of Modern Birds 242 Limitations of the Present Analysis 244 Broad-scale Patterns of Molecular and Morphological Evolutionary Rates 246 Future Research 246 Conclusions 248 Figures 250 Tables 262 Supplementary Methodology 268 Supplementary Figures 276 Appendix 298 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS 304 BIBLIOGRAPHY 309 ABSTRACT The rate of evolution is a fundamental unifying concept in evolutionary biology and sets the stage for the investigation of genotypic, phenotypic and taxonomic biodiversity. This thesis specifically examined the rate of phenotypic evolution using discrete morphological characters, which are relatively understudied for this purpose compared to continuously-valued characters and traits. I first focused on heterogeneity in rates among characters in phylogenetic analysis. I used Bayesian model selection tools and 77 matrices of discrete morphological characters to show that a) models incorporating rate-heterogeneity among characters in phylogenetic analysis were preferred over equal-rates models in 80–88% of matrices, suggesting rate heterogeneity is a common property of these data sets, and b) although most data sets were equivocal, there was some weak support for a recently formulated hypothesis that the lognormal distribution is more appropriate to model such variation relative to the commonly used gamma distribution. I then focused on estimating absolute rates of evolution of discrete morphological characters in a phylogenetic context. I extended previous methods to better incorporate phylogenetic and divergence time uncertainty using distributions of dated phylogenies derived from independent data. I used modern birds as a case study and performed a large Bayesian divergence time study of a comprehensive sample of 310 modern bird genera to provide a posterior sample of 10 000 dated trees to estimate absolute rates of evolution. This analysis, based on 23 fossil calibrations and a multigene molecular supermatrix of existing sequences, although qualified by uncertainty in estimated relationships and divergence times, estimated that the basal radiation of Neoaves occurred within a relatively short interval in the Late Cretaceous. Many lineages were estimated to cross the Cretaceous–Paleogene (K–Pg) boundary while within order diversification of crown groups was nearly exclusively in the Cenozoic. Finally, I employed this tree distribution along with another recently published tree distribution to estimate absolute rates of phenotypic evolution using both 1 maximum parsimony and likelihood-based methods using an existing comprehensive data set of discrete avian anatomical characters. Incorporating phylogenetic and divergence time uncertainty, estimated rates of evolution were found to be highly variable and had a complex multimodal distribution through time when visualized across 10 000 dated trees. Combined with an analysis of rates of evolution across clades, maximum clade credibility trees, and a correlation test of rates against time, the results were complex, but in aggregate, were consistent with the hypothesis of an early-burst of higher rates of phenotypic evolution in modern birds. 2 RÉSUMÉ Le taux d'évolution est un concept fondamental unificateur en biologie évolutive, et ouvre la voie à l'étude de la biodiversité génotypique, phénotypique et taxonomique. La présente thèse a examiné de manière spécifique le taux d'évolution phénotypique à l'aide de charactères morphologiques discrètes, qui sont relativement peu étudiés dans cette optique comparativement aux traits et charactèrs à valeur continue. Premièrement, je me suis penché sur l'hétérogénéité des taux dans les caractères d'analyse phylogénétique. Les outils de sélection du modèle Bayesien ainsi que 77 matrices de charactères morphologiques discrets ont été utilisé afin de démontrer que a) les modèles incorporant l'hétérogenéité des taux dans les charactères d'analyse phylogénétique étaient préférées des modèles à taux égaux dans 80 à 88% des matrices, ce qui suggère que l'hétérogénéité est une charactéristique commune dans les ensembles de données, et b) bien que la plupart des ensembles de données étaient équivoques, il y avait un faible appui pour l'hypothèse formulée récemment que la distribution log-normale est plus appropriée pour modéliser les variations relatives que la distribution gamma couramment utilisée. Ensuite, je me suis concentré sur l'esmination des taux absolus d'évolution des charactères morphologiques discrets dans un contexte phylogénétique. J'ai étendu des méthodes existantes afin de mieux incorporer les incertitudes phylogénétique et de divergence temporelle en utilisant des distributions de phylogénies datées extraits de données indépendantes. J'ai utilisé les oiseaux modernes comme étude de cas et j'ai effectué une grande étude Bayesien de divergence temporelle d'un échantillon exhaustif de 310 genera d'oiseaux modernes pour y extraire un échantillon postérieur de 10 000 arbres datées, dans le but d'arriver à une estimation absolue des taux d'évolution. Cette analyse, qui est basée sur vingt-trois étalonnages de fossils et une supermatrice multigène moléculaire de séquences existantes, bien que qualifié par une incertitude dans les relations estimées et divergences temporelles, estime que le rayonnement de base a eu lieu dans un laps de temps relativement court dans la 3 fin du Crétacé. De nombreuses lignées ont été estimés à traverser la frontière Crétacé-Paléogène (K–Pg) tandis que la diversification des groupes
Load more

Recommended publications
  • 156 Glossy Ibis
    Text and images extracted from Marchant, S. & Higgins, P.J. (co-ordinating editors) 1990. Handbook of Australian, New Zealand & Antarctic Birds. Volume 1, Ratites to ducks; Part B, Australian pelican to ducks. Melbourne, Oxford University Press. Pages 953, 1071-1 078; plate 78. Reproduced with the permission of Bird life Australia and Jeff Davies. 953 Order CICONIIFORMES Medium-sized to huge, long-legged wading birds with well developed hallux or hind toe, and large bill. Variations in shape of bill used for recognition of sub-families. Despite long legs, walk rather than run and escape by flying. Five families of which three (Ardeidae, Ciconiidae, Threskiornithidae) represented in our region; others - Balaenicipitidae (Shoe-billed Stork) and Scopidae (Hammerhead) - monotypic and exclusively Ethiopian. Re­ lated to Phoenicopteriformes, which sometimes considered as belonging to same order, and, more distantly, to Anseriformes. Behavioural similarities suggest affinities also to Pelecaniformes (van Tets 1965; Meyerriecks 1966), but close relationship not supported by studies of egg-white proteins (Sibley & Ahlquist 1972). Suggested also, mainly on osteological and other anatomical characters, that Ardeidae should be placed in separate order from Ciconiidae and that Cathartidae (New World vultures) should be placed in same order as latter (Ligon 1967). REFERENCES Ligon, J.D. 1967. Occas. Pap. Mus. Zool. Univ. Mich. 651. Sibley, C. G., & J.E. Ahlquist. 1972. Bull. Peabody Mus. nat. Meyerriecks, A.J. 1966. Auk 83: 683-4. Hist. 39. van Tets, G.F. 1965. AOU orn. Monogr. 2. 1071 Family PLATALEIDAE ibises, spoonbills Medium-sized to large wading and terrestial birds. About 30 species in about 15 genera, divided into two sub­ families: ibises (Threskiornithinae) and spoonbills (Plataleinae); five species in three genera breeding in our region.
    [Show full text]
  • Houde2009chap64.Pdf
    Cranes, rails, and allies (Gruiformes) Peter Houde of these features are subject to allometric scaling. Cranes Department of Biology, New Mexico State University, Box 30001 are exceptional migrators. While most rails are generally MSC 3AF, Las Cruces, NM 88003-8001, USA ([email protected]) more sedentary, they are nevertheless good dispersers. Many have secondarily evolved P ightlessness aJ er col- onizing remote oceanic islands. Other members of the Abstract Grues are nonmigratory. 7 ey include the A nfoots and The cranes, rails, and allies (Order Gruiformes) form a mor- sungrebe (Heliornithidae), with three species in as many phologically eclectic group of bird families typifi ed by poor genera that are distributed pantropically and disjunctly. species diversity and disjunct distributions. Molecular data Finfoots are foot-propelled swimmers of rivers and lakes. indicate that Gruiformes is not a natural group, but that it 7 eir toes, like those of coots, are lobate rather than pal- includes a evolutionary clade of six “core gruiform” fam- mate. Adzebills (Aptornithidae) include two recently ilies (Suborder Grues) and a separate pair of closely related extinct species of P ightless, turkey-sized, rail-like birds families (Suborder Eurypygae). The basal split of Grues into from New Zealand. Other extant Grues resemble small rail-like and crane-like lineages (Ralloidea and Gruoidea, cranes or are morphologically intermediate between respectively) occurred sometime near the Mesozoic– cranes and rails, and are exclusively neotropical. 7 ey Cenozoic boundary (66 million years ago, Ma), possibly on include three species in one genus of forest-dwelling the southern continents. Interfamilial diversifi cation within trumpeters (Psophiidae) and the monotypic Limpkin each of the ralloids, gruoids, and Eurypygae occurred within (Aramidae) of both forested and open wetlands.
    [Show full text]
  • Madagascar: the 8Th Continent with Naturalist Journeys & Caligo Ventures Nov
    Madagascar: The 8th Continent With Naturalist Journeys & Caligo Ventures Nov. 26 – Dec. 10, 2018 866.900.1146 800.426.7781 520.558.1146 [email protected] www.naturalistjourneys.com or find us on Facebook at Naturalist Journeys, LLC Naturalist Journeys, LLC / Caligo Ventures PO Box 16545 Portal, AZ 85632 PH: 520.558.1146 / 800.426.7781 Fax 650.471.7667 naturalistjourneys.com / caligo.com [email protected] / [email protected] Madagascar: The 8th Continent With Naturalist Journeys & Caligo Ventures Isolated from any continental landmass since the Cretaceous period, Madagascar has drifted through the Indian Ocean, following its own evolutionary course, having only five major terrestrial animal colonization events since the time of the dinosaurs. The result is an island where every land mammal is endemic, as are nearly half the bird species. Reptiles are well represented as well, like chameleons, and day and leaf-tailed geckos. The uniqueness of this island’s fauna makes it one of the world’s great destinations for the birdwatcher and naturalist, alike. Our tour features both birds and mammals. We focus on Madagascar’s most iconic and charismatic bird species (we hope to see over 95% of the endemics), as well as the Island's other oddities, like endearing lemurs and strikingly bizarre chameleons. We also focus on the Island’s geology and geography with resulting various habitats ― from the spiny forests of Ifaty with its towering baobabs and other-worldly Didierea octopus trees, to the verdant rainforests of Andasibe-Mantadia
    [Show full text]
  • View Preprint
    A peer-reviewed version of this preprint was published in PeerJ on 30 June 2016. View the peer-reviewed version (peerj.com/articles/2108), which is the preferred citable publication unless you specifically need to cite this preprint. Eldridge A, Casey M, Moscoso P, Peck M. 2016. A new method for ecoacoustics? Toward the extraction and evaluation of ecologically- meaningful soundscape components using sparse coding methods. PeerJ 4:e2108 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.2108 Manuscript to be reviewed A new method for ecoacoustics? Toward the extraction and evaluation of ecologically-meaningful soundscape components using sparse coding methods Alice Eldridge, Michael Casey, Paola Moscoso, Mika Peck Passive acoustic monitoring is emerging as a promising non-invasive proxy for ecological complexity with potential as a tool for remote assessment and monitoring (Sueur and Farina, 2015). Rather than attempting to recognise species-specific calls, either manually or automatically, there is a growing interest in evaluating the global acoustic environment. Positioned within the conceptual framework of ecoacoustics, a growing number of indices have been proposed which aim to capture community-level dynamics by (e.g. Pieretti et al., 2011; Farina, 2014; Sueur et al., 2008b) by providing statistical summaries of the frequency or time domain signal. Although promising, the ecological relevance and efficacy as a monitoring tool of these indices is still unclear. In this paper we suggest that by virtue of operating in the time or frequency domain, existing indices are limited in their ability to access key structural information in the spectro-temporal domain. Alternative methods in which time-frequency dynamics are preserved are considered.
    [Show full text]
  • Download Vol. 11, No. 3
    BULLETIN OF THE FLORIDA STATE MUSEUM BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES Volume 11 Number 3 CATALOGUE OF FOSSIL BIRDS: Part 3 (Ralliformes, Ichthyornithiformes, Charadriiformes) Pierce Brodkorb M,4 * . /853 0 UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA Gainesville 1967 Numbers of the BULLETIN OF THE FLORIDA STATE MUSEUM are pub- lished at irregular intervals. Volumes contain about 800 pages and are not nec- essarily completed in any one calendar year. WALTER AuFFENBERC, Managing Editor OLIVER L. AUSTIN, JA, Editor Consultants for this issue. ~ HILDEGARDE HOWARD ALExANDER WErMORE Communications concerning purchase or exchange of the publication and all manuscripts should be addressed to the Managing Editor of the Bulletin, Florida State Museum, Seagle Building, Gainesville, Florida. 82601 Published June 12, 1967 Price for this issue $2.20 CATALOGUE OF FOSSIL BIRDS: Part 3 ( Ralliformes, Ichthyornithiformes, Charadriiformes) PIERCE BRODKORBl SYNOPSIS: The third installment of the Catalogue of Fossil Birds treats 84 families comprising the orders Ralliformes, Ichthyornithiformes, and Charadriiformes. The species included in this section number 866, of which 215 are paleospecies and 151 are neospecies. With the addenda of 14 paleospecies, the three parts now published treat 1,236 spDcies, of which 771 are paleospecies and 465 are living or recently extinct. The nominal order- Diatrymiformes is reduced in rank to a suborder of the Ralliformes, and several generally recognized families are reduced to subfamily status. These include Geranoididae and Eogruidae (to Gruidae); Bfontornithidae
    [Show full text]
  • TNP SOK 2011 Internet
    GARDEN ROUTE NATIONAL PARK : THE TSITSIKAMMA SANP ARKS SECTION STATE OF KNOWLEDGE Contributors: N. Hanekom 1, R.M. Randall 1, D. Bower, A. Riley 2 and N. Kruger 1 1 SANParks Scientific Services, Garden Route (Rondevlei Office), PO Box 176, Sedgefield, 6573 2 Knysna National Lakes Area, P.O. Box 314, Knysna, 6570 Most recent update: 10 May 2012 Disclaimer This report has been produced by SANParks to summarise information available on a specific conservation area. Production of the report, in either hard copy or electronic format, does not signify that: the referenced information necessarily reflect the views and policies of SANParks; the referenced information is either correct or accurate; SANParks retains copies of the referenced documents; SANParks will provide second parties with copies of the referenced documents. This standpoint has the premise that (i) reproduction of copywrited material is illegal, (ii) copying of unpublished reports and data produced by an external scientist without the author’s permission is unethical, and (iii) dissemination of unreviewed data or draft documentation is potentially misleading and hence illogical. This report should be cited as: Hanekom N., Randall R.M., Bower, D., Riley, A. & Kruger, N. 2012. Garden Route National Park: The Tsitsikamma Section – State of Knowledge. South African National Parks. TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION ...............................................................................................................2 2. ACCOUNT OF AREA........................................................................................................2
    [Show full text]
  • Onetouch 4.0 Scanned Documents
    / Chapter 2 THE FOSSIL RECORD OF BIRDS Storrs L. Olson Department of Vertebrate Zoology National Museum of Natural History Smithsonian Institution Washington, DC. I. Introduction 80 II. Archaeopteryx 85 III. Early Cretaceous Birds 87 IV. Hesperornithiformes 89 V. Ichthyornithiformes 91 VI. Other Mesozojc Birds 92 VII. Paleognathous Birds 96 A. The Problem of the Origins of Paleognathous Birds 96 B. The Fossil Record of Paleognathous Birds 104 VIII. The "Basal" Land Bird Assemblage 107 A. Opisthocomidae 109 B. Musophagidae 109 C. Cuculidae HO D. Falconidae HI E. Sagittariidae 112 F. Accipitridae 112 G. Pandionidae 114 H. Galliformes 114 1. Family Incertae Sedis Turnicidae 119 J. Columbiformes 119 K. Psittaciforines 120 L. Family Incertae Sedis Zygodactylidae 121 IX. The "Higher" Land Bird Assemblage 122 A. Coliiformes 124 B. Coraciiformes (Including Trogonidae and Galbulae) 124 C. Strigiformes 129 D. Caprimulgiformes 132 E. Apodiformes 134 F. Family Incertae Sedis Trochilidae 135 G. Order Incertae Sedis Bucerotiformes (Including Upupae) 136 H. Piciformes 138 I. Passeriformes 139 X. The Water Bird Assemblage 141 A. Gruiformes 142 B. Family Incertae Sedis Ardeidae 165 79 Avian Biology, Vol. Vlll ISBN 0-12-249408-3 80 STORES L. OLSON C. Family Incertae Sedis Podicipedidae 168 D. Charadriiformes 169 E. Anseriformes 186 F. Ciconiiformes 188 G. Pelecaniformes 192 H. Procellariiformes 208 I. Gaviiformes 212 J. Sphenisciformes 217 XI. Conclusion 217 References 218 I. Introduction Avian paleontology has long been a poor stepsister to its mammalian counterpart, a fact that may be attributed in some measure to an insufRcien- cy of qualified workers and to the absence in birds of heterodont teeth, on which the greater proportion of the fossil record of mammals is founded.
    [Show full text]
  • Sistemática Y Filogenia De Las Aves Fororracoideas (Gruiformes, Cariamae)
    SISTEMÁTICA Y FILOGENIA DE LAS AVES FORORRACOIDEAS (GRUIFORMES, CARIAMAE) Federico Agnolín1, 2 1Laboratorio de Anatomía Comparada y Evolución de los Vertebrados, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “Bernardino Rivadavia”. Av. Ángel Gallardo, 470 (1405), Buenos Aires, República Argentina. fedeagnolí[email protected] 2Área Paleontología. Fundación de Historia Natural “Félix de Azara”. Departamento de Ciencias Naturales y Antropolo- gía. CEBBAD - Universidad Maimónides. Valentín Virasoro 732 (C1405BDB), Buenos Aires, República Argentina. Sistemática y Filogenia de las Aves Fororracoideas (Gruiformes, Cariamae). Federico Agnolín. Primera edición: septiembre de 2009. Fundación de Historia Natural Félix de Azara Departamento de Ciencias Naturales y Antropología CEBBAD - Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Universidad Maimónides Valentín Virasoro 732 (C1405BDB) Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, República Argentina. Teléfono: 011-4905-1100 (int. 1228). E-mail: [email protected] Página web: www.fundacionazara.org.ar Diseño: Claudia Di Leva. Agnolín, Federico Sistemática y filogenia de las aves fororracoideas : gruiformes, cariamae / Federico Agnolín ; dirigido por Adrián Giacchino. - 1a ed. - Buenos Aires : Fundación de Historia Natural Félix de Azara, 2009. 79 p. : il. ; 30x21 cm. - (Monografías Fundación Azara / Adrián Giacchino) ISBN 978-987-25346-1-5 © Fundación de Historia Natural Félix de Azara Queda hecho el depósito que marca la ley 11.723 Sistemática y Filogenia de las aves fororracoideas (Gruiformes, Cariamae) Resumen. En el presente trabajo se efectúa una revisión sistemática de las aves fororracoideas y se propone por primera vez una filogenia cladística para los Phororhacoidea y grupos relacionados. Se acuña el nuevo nombre Notogrues para el clado que incluye entre otros taxones a Psophia, Cariamidae y Phororhacoidea. Dentro de los Notogrues se observa una paulatina tendencia hacia la pérdida del vuelo y la carnivoría.
    [Show full text]
  • Attachment J Assessment of Existing Paleontologic Data Along with Field Survey Results for the Jonah Field
    Attachment J Assessment of Existing Paleontologic Data Along with Field Survey Results for the Jonah Field June 12, 2007 ABSTRACT This is compilation of a technical analysis of existing paleontological data and a limited, selective paleontological field survey of the geologic bedrock formations that will be impacted on Federal lands by construction associated with energy development in the Jonah Field, Sublette County, Wyoming. The field survey was done on approximately 20% of the field, primarily where good bedrock was exposed or where there were existing, debris piles from recent construction. Some potentially rich areas were inaccessible due to biological restrictions. Heavily vegetated areas were not examined. All locality data are compiled in the separate confidential appendix D. Uinta Paleontological Associates Inc. was contracted to do this work through EnCana Oil & Gas Inc. In addition BP and Ultra Resources are partners in this project as they also have holdings in the Jonah Field. For this project, we reviewed a variety of geologic maps for the area (approximately 47 sections); none of maps have a scale better than 1:100,000. The Wyoming 1:500,000 geology map (Love and Christiansen, 1985) reveals two Eocene geologic formations with four members mapped within or near the Jonah Field (Wasatch – Alkali Creek and Main Body; Green River – Laney and Wilkins Peak members). In addition, Winterfeld’s 1997 paleontology report for the proposed Jonah Field II Project was reviewed carefully. After considerable review of the literature and museum data, it became obvious that the portion of the mapped Alkali Creek Member in the Jonah Field is probably misinterpreted.
    [Show full text]
  • Print This Article
    VOLUME 4 ISSUE 1 JUNE 2009 MADAGASCAR CONSERVATION & DEVELOPMENT INVESTING FOR A SUSTAINABLE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS OF HUMANS, ANIMALS AND PLANTS OF MADAGASCAR IN THIS ISSUE Integrating Conservation & Development Spatial Modeling & Human Agencies Alaotra: Fishermen’s Perspectives Mouse Lemur’s Parasite Burden Madagascar Conservation & Development is the journal of Madagascar Wildlife Conservation (MWC) and the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI Switzerland). It is produced in these institutions’ own responsibility. All the Issues and articles are freely available at http://www.mwc-info.net/en/services/journal.htm Contact Journal MCD [email protected] for general inquiries MCD [email protected] for supporting the journal Journal Madagascar Conservation & Development Institute and Museum of Anthropology University of Zurich Winterthurerstrasse 190 CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland [email protected] for general inquiries Postfach 2701 CH-8021 Zürich, Switzerland Logement 11, Cité Andohaniato Antananarivo 101, Madagascar [email protected] for general inquiries JGI Jane Goodall Institute Schweiz Postfach 2807 8033 Zürich Switzerland MADAGASCAR CONSERVATION & DEVELOPMENT VOLUME 4 | I S S U E 1 — JUNE 2009 PAGE 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS EDITORIAL 2 Madagascar – the only certainty is change. Waeber, P. O. and Wilmé, L. Madagascar – the only 5 Reflections on a changing Madagascar. Robinson, D. certainty is change 7 La Biodiversité, garant de notre bonheur. The political situation witnessed in Madagascar since the begin- Rabenantoandro, J. ning of this year has resulted in major changes in the daily lives 69 Corrigendum of the Malagasy. Besides instability and increased uncertainty, 70 Impressum the population is facing more imminent challenges: increas- ing unemployment, exploding staple food prices, a shortage in SPOTLIGHTS basic food supplies, and a closure of schools, universities and 9 Integrating conservation and development – is it time to financial institutions.
    [Show full text]
  • AOU Classification Committee – North and Middle America
    AOU Classification Committee – North and Middle America Proposal Set 2016-C No. Page Title 01 02 Change the English name of Alauda arvensis to Eurasian Skylark 02 06 Recognize Lilian’s Meadowlark Sturnella lilianae as a separate species from S. magna 03 20 Change the English name of Euplectes franciscanus to Northern Red Bishop 04 25 Transfer Sandhill Crane Grus canadensis to Antigone 05 29 Add Rufous-necked Wood-Rail Aramides axillaris to the U.S. list 06 31 Revise our higher-level linear sequence as follows: (a) Move Strigiformes to precede Trogoniformes; (b) Move Accipitriformes to precede Strigiformes; (c) Move Gaviiformes to precede Procellariiformes; (d) Move Eurypygiformes and Phaethontiformes to precede Gaviiformes; (e) Reverse the linear sequence of Podicipediformes and Phoenicopteriformes; (f) Move Pterocliformes and Columbiformes to follow Podicipediformes; (g) Move Cuculiformes, Caprimulgiformes, and Apodiformes to follow Columbiformes; and (h) Move Charadriiformes and Gruiformes to precede Eurypygiformes 07 45 Transfer Neocrex to Mustelirallus 08 48 (a) Split Ardenna from Puffinus, and (b) Revise the linear sequence of species of Ardenna 09 51 Separate Cathartiformes from Accipitriformes 10 58 Recognize Colibri cyanotus as a separate species from C. thalassinus 11 61 Change the English name “Brush-Finch” to “Brushfinch” 12 62 Change the English name of Ramphastos ambiguus 13 63 Split Plain Wren Cantorchilus modestus into three species 14 71 Recognize the genus Cercomacroides (Thamnophilidae) 15 74 Split Oceanodroma cheimomnestes and O. socorroensis from Leach’s Storm- Petrel O. leucorhoa 2016-C-1 N&MA Classification Committee p. 453 Change the English name of Alauda arvensis to Eurasian Skylark There are a dizzying number of larks (Alaudidae) worldwide and a first-time visitor to Africa or Mongolia might confront 10 or more species across several genera.
    [Show full text]
  • Highly Conservative Pattern of Sex Chromosome Synapsis and Recombination in Neognathae Birds
    G C A T T A C G G C A T genes Article Highly Conservative Pattern of Sex Chromosome Synapsis and Recombination in Neognathae Birds Anna Torgasheva 1,2 , Lyubov Malinovskaya 1,2, Kira S. Zadesenets 1, Anastasia Slobodchikova 1,2, Elena Shnaider 3, Nikolai Rubtsov 1,2 and Pavel Borodin 1,2,* 1 Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Siberian Branch, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia; [email protected] (A.T.); [email protected] (L.M.); [email protected] (K.S.Z.); [email protected] (A.S.); [email protected] (N.R.) 2 Department of Cytology and Genetics, Novosibirsk State University, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia 3 Bird of Prey Rehabilitation Centre, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] Abstract: We analyzed the synapsis and recombination between Z and W chromosomes in the oocytes of nine neognath species: domestic chicken Gallus gallus domesticus, grey goose Anser anser, black tern Chlidonias niger, common tern Sterna hirundo, pale martin Riparia diluta, barn swallow Hirundo rustica, European pied flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca, great tit Parus major and white wagtail Motacilla alba using immunolocalization of SYCP3, the main protein of the lateral elements of the synaptonemal complex, and MLH1, the mismatch repair protein marking mature recombination nodules. In all species examined, homologous synapsis occurs in a short region of variable size at the ends of Z and W chromosomes, where a single recombination nodule is located. The remaining Citation: Torgasheva, A.; parts of the sex chromosomes undergo synaptic adjustment and synapse non-homologously. In 25% Malinovskaya, L.; Zadesenets, K.S.; of ZW bivalents of white wagtail, synapsis and recombination also occur at the secondary pairing Slobodchikova, A.; Shnaider, E.; Rubtsov, N.; Borodin, P.
    [Show full text]