HI:
FYI

--

Ian Paulsen
Bainbridge Island, WA, USA
A.K.A.: "Birdbooker"
"Rallidae all the way!"

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Mon, 28 Nov 2005 18:00:22 -0500
From: Paul Hess <phess at SALSGIVER.COM>
To: BIRDWG01 at LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU
Subject: [BIRDWG01] "Taxonomy for birders"

Hello, all.

An article in the October 2005 issue of British Birds may be of interest to
ID-Frontiers readers: "Taxonomy for birders: a beginner's guide to DNA and
species problems" by Norman Maclean, Martin Collinson, and Richard G.
Newell (98:512-537). Here's the abstract:

"The use of molecular data has revolutionised taxonomy. As a result, there
is upheaval within national and regional bird lists, with new species
splits and lumps and, alterations to the sequence in which families and
species are listed. These changes, sometimes based on esoteric genetic or
mathematical data, affect ornithologists and birders. In this paper, some
of the basics of modern taxonomic practice are explained, and we show how
these principles may be applied to genetic data to generate molecular
phylogenies. Examples are used to illustrate how genetic data may resolve
complex taxonomic problems, and also to show some of the reasons why DNA
does not offer a simple resolution to the 'species problem'. There are no
simple rules to determine species boundaries, and the use of molecular data
does not yet change this. There are cases where different DNA sequences
tell different stories, which can be different again from phylogenies based
on morphological data."

Topics cover the basics of species concepts, phylogenetic trees, nuclear
and mitochondrial DNA, mechanics of molecular evolution, and the problems
and limitations of DNA analysis. Most interesting are the
authors' interpretations of the Canada/Cackling Goose split (Greater
Canada/Lesser Canada in the British nomenclature), phylogenetic
relationships among the skuas, the Greenish Warbler ring-species phenomenon
in Eurasia, the large white-headed gull conundrum, the wagtail
uncertainties, the species clusters of Galapagos Finches and European
crossbills, and a fascinating genetic situation involving female Common
Cuckoos.

It's well written, especially valuable for those with a limited education
in molecular biology, and worthwhile for all as a summary of many current
issues in taxonomy.

Best regards,
Paul Hess
Natrona Heights, PA
phess at salsgiver.com


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