For the first time, scientists have created a comprehensive evolutionary tree of all known bird species, synthesizing data from nearly 300 studies published between 1990 and 2024. This groundbreaking effort provides a unified framework for understanding bird evolution, taxonomy, and ecological relationships.
How Scientists Built the Evolutionary Tree
Researchers at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the University of California, Merced combined genetic data from 9,239 bird species, along with curated information on an additional 1,000 species. The resulting database is designed to be continuously updated, allowing new discoveries to refine the evolutionary map.
Why This Research Matters
Bird phylogenies—studies of evolutionary histories—are published frequently, but their findings are often underutilized in broader research. By consolidating these studies into a single, accessible tree, scientists aim to close the research loop, ensuring that evolutionary insights are incorporated into future studies on bird behavior, conservation, and ecology.
Applications Beyond Birds
The methods used to construct this evolutionary tree could be applied to other animal and plant groups, helping researchers build more accurate phylogenetic models across different species. The project is part of the Open Tree of Life, a collaborative effort to map evolutionary relationships across all life forms.
Conclusion
This unified evolutionary tree represents a major step forward in avian research, providing a valuable tool for scientists studying bird evolution, taxonomy, and conservation. As new genetic data emerges, researchers can refine the tree, ensuring it remains a dynamic and evolving resource for the scientific community.
Source:
