Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent CT2 7NR, UK.
Mol Phylogenet Evol. 2012 Jan;62(1):296-305. doi: 10.1016/j.ympev.2011.09.025. Epub 2011 Oct 12.
Parrots are among the most recognisable and widely distributed of all bird groups occupying major parts of the tropics. The evolution of the genera that are found in and around the Indian Ocean region is particularly interesting as they show a high degree of heterogeneity in distribution and levels of speciation. Here we present a molecular phylogenetic analysis of Indian Ocean parrots, identifying the possible geological and geographical factors that influenced their evolution. We hypothesise that the Indian Ocean islands acted as stepping stones in the radiation of the Old-World parrots, and that sea-level changes may have been an important determinant of current distributions and differences in speciation. A multi-locus phylogeny showing the evolutionary relationships among genera highlights the interesting position of the monotypic Psittrichas, which shares a common ancestor with the geographically distant Coracopsis. An extensive species-level molecular phylogeny indicates a complex pattern of radiation including evidence for colonisation of Africa, Asia and the Indian Ocean islands from Australasia via multiple routes, and of island populations 'seeding' continents. Moreover, comparison of estimated divergence dates and sea-level changes points to the latter as a factor in parrot speciation. This is the first study to include the extinct parrot taxa, Mascarinus mascarinus and Psittacula wardi which, respectively, appear closely related to Coracopsis nigra and Psittacula eupatria.
鹦鹉是所有鸟类中最具辨识度和分布最广的群体之一，栖息于热带地区的大部分地区。在印度洋地区及其周边发现的鹦鹉属的进化尤其有趣，因为它们在分布和物种形成水平上表现出高度的异质性。在这里，我们对印度洋鹦鹉进行了分子系统发育分析，确定了可能影响其进化的地质和地理因素。我们假设印度洋岛屿在旧世界鹦鹉的辐射中起到了踏脚石的作用，海平面变化可能是当前分布和物种形成差异的重要决定因素。一个显示属间进化关系的多基因座系统发育树突出了单型 Psittrichas 的有趣位置，它与地理上遥远的 Coracopsis 有共同的祖先。广泛的种级分子系统发育表明存在复杂的辐射模式，包括从澳大拉西亚通过多种途径向非洲、亚洲和印度洋岛屿以及岛屿种群向大陆“播种”的证据。此外，估计的分化日期和海平面变化的比较表明，海平面变化是鹦鹉物种形成的一个因素。这是第一项包括已灭绝的鹦鹉分类群 Mascarinus mascarinus 和 Psittacula wardi 的研究，它们分别与 Coracopsis nigra 和 Psittacula eupatria 密切相关。
