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Biological traits that predict diversificationratesin birds

To: Andrew Hobbs <>
Subject: Biological traits that predict diversificationratesin birds
From: Andrew Taylor <>
Date: Tue, 27 Jun 2006 22:39:17 +1000
On Tue, Jun 27, 2006 at 07:40:57PM +0800, Andrew Hobbs wrote:
> I hope the authors return to the original data to determine estimated
> times of divergence and not simply rely on taxonomic classification.
> I also note that they used the phylogeny based upon the DNA-DNA
> hybridization results of Sibley and Ahlquist.  This method has now been
> so discredited with regard to the reliability of the results that I
> wonder how they ever managed to get the manuscript past the reviewers,
> let alone being able to rely on any results and conclusions.

Yes they used estimated branch lengths not taxonomic rank.  As my
first e-mail mentioned, they used Sibley and Ahlquist despite concerns
because its the only comprehensive avian phylogeny which provides
branch lengths. They checked for possible impact of any biases
in A&S by also doing an analysis using this passerine phylogeny:
http://www.tc.umn.edu/~barke042/pdfs/Barker.et.al04.pdf

Andrew
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