The Phylogeny and Classification of Birds: A Study in Molecular Evolution

Charles Gald Sibley

Yale University Press, 1990 - Nature - 976 pages

This book presents the results of a study of the evolutionary history and classification of living birds based on comparisons of the DNA (genetic material) of about 1700 species. Sibley and Ahlquist's 'DNA-DNA hybridization' technique is a biochemical method that measures the degree of genetic similarity between the DNA of different species. This method has been applied to studies of other groups of organisms, but this book includes the largest set of DNA comparisons for any group.

Contents

• INTRODUCTION: 3
• A Brief History: 9
• Structure and Properties of DNA: 19
• Gene Structure and Function: 31
• Genetic Regulation: 40
• DNA Reassociation and Thermal Stability: 48
• The Sequence Organization of the Genome: 74
• The Families of Repeated DNA: 90
• Homology: 104
• Comparative DNADNA Studies: 114
• Materials and Methods: 120
• Data Analysis: 136
• Tempo of Evolution: 165
• Demographic Factors and Rates of DNA Evolution: 175
• A Chronological Survey of the Classification of Birds: 184
• Principles and Methods of Classification: 246
• Classification of Birds Based on DNADNA: 253
• Melting Curves and Dendrograms: 265
• ACCOUNTS OF THE GROUPS OF BIRDS: 271
• Gallinaceous Birds: 289
• Screamers Ducks Geese and Swans: 301
• Buttonquails or Hemipodes: 312
• Woodpeckers Honeyguides Barbets Toucans Jacamars and Puffbirds: 318
• Hornbills Hoopoes Trogons Rollers Motmots Todies Kingfishers: 333
• Trogons: 351
• Mousebirds or Colies: 357
• Cuckoos Hoatzin and Turacos: 364
• The Hoatzin: 373
• Parrots: 380
• Swifts and Hummingbirds: 391
• Owls: 402
• OwletNightjars Frogmouths Oilbird Potoos EaredNightjars: 412
• Pigeons and Doves: 421
• Cranes Sunbittern Bustards Limpkin Sungrebes Trumpeters Seriemas: 427
• Sandpipers Plovers Gulls etc: 441
• Sandgrouse: 463
• Hawks Eagles Old World Vultures Harriers Kites: 471
• Grebes: 488
• Herons Hamerkop Flamingos Ibises Shoebill Pelicans New World: 504
• Albatrosses Petrels Shearwaters DivingPetrels Penguins Loons: 528
• Penguins: 538
• Loons or Divers: 545
• The Passerine Birds: 552
• Order Passeriformes: 576
• New World Suboscines: 590
• Suborder Passeri Passeres: 602
• Parvorder Passerida: 628
• Patterns of Distribution in Space and Time: 699
• Figures 18385: 707
• Literature Cited: 871
• Index: 969

Bibliographic information

• Title: The Phylogeny and Classification of Birds: A Study in Molecular Evolution
• Author: Charles Gald Sibley
• Contributor: Jon E Ahlquist
• Edition: illustrated, reprint
• Publisher: Yale University Press, 1990
• ISBN: 0300040857, 9780300040852
• Length: 976 pages
• Subjects: Nature / Birdwatching Guides; Pets / General