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The evolutionary radiation of modern birds: systematics and patterns of diversification

The evolutionary radiation of modern birds: systematics and patterns of diversification
The evolutionary radiation of modern birds: systematics and patterns of diversification
The timing of the evolutionary radiation of the modern, or neornithine, birds is controversial. The fossil record has indicated that the radiation occurred mainly in the aftermath of the Cretaceous–Tertiary (KT) extinction event. However, recent estimates of lineage divergence times calculated from molecular data have instead indicated that most of the major clades of modern birds originated in the Cretaceous. Because the known Mesozoic fossil record of modern birds is poor, fossils from the early Tertiary provide the first opportunity to document the pattern of the radiation. The limited phylogenetic hypotheses produced to date and including this post-KT fossil material suggest that only some of the ‘more basal’ clades of modern birds were, most likely, present during the Mesozoic Era, and that the radiation of the ‘more derived’ landbird group of clades occurred in the early Tertiary.
0072-1050
305-315
Dyke, Gareth J.
600ca61e-b40b-4c86-b8ae-13be4e331e94
Dyke, Gareth J.
600ca61e-b40b-4c86-b8ae-13be4e331e94

Dyke, Gareth J. (2001) The evolutionary radiation of modern birds: systematics and patterns of diversification. Geological Journal, 36 (3-4), 305-315. (doi:10.1002/gj.878).

Record type: Article

Abstract

The timing of the evolutionary radiation of the modern, or neornithine, birds is controversial. The fossil record has indicated that the radiation occurred mainly in the aftermath of the Cretaceous–Tertiary (KT) extinction event. However, recent estimates of lineage divergence times calculated from molecular data have instead indicated that most of the major clades of modern birds originated in the Cretaceous. Because the known Mesozoic fossil record of modern birds is poor, fossils from the early Tertiary provide the first opportunity to document the pattern of the radiation. The limited phylogenetic hypotheses produced to date and including this post-KT fossil material suggest that only some of the ‘more basal’ clades of modern birds were, most likely, present during the Mesozoic Era, and that the radiation of the ‘more derived’ landbird group of clades occurred in the early Tertiary.

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More information

Published date: July 2001
Organisations: Ocean Biochemistry & Ecosystems

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Local EPrints ID: 205309
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/205309
ISSN: 0072-1050
PURE UUID: 374e899a-3170-49c6-a13c-2bbede1c7cc5

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Date deposited: 08 Dec 2011 14:00
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 04:34

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Author: Gareth J. Dyke

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