The Early History Of Modern Birds And The Phylogenetic Study Of Buttonquails, And Evolution Of Microsatellite Alleles In Some Species Of Heron (Family Ardeidae)

This thesis includes live chapters in two ptrts. In the first part, the partial sequences of the c-mos and 12S rRNA genes of 39| speeies of 21 orders were used to study the early history of modern birds and to discuss the phylogenetic position of the buttonquails. In the second part, nine microsatelliles loci were used to study the phytogeny of herons, and the size homoplasy and the evolution of microsatellite alleles were discussed.1, The traditional opinion of avian evolution places palaeognath birds at the base of the phylogenetic tree of modern birds (NeorniUes). The molecular studies suggest that neognathous perching birds (Passeriforme.s) compose the oldest lineage of modern birds. Mere the partial sequences of the c-mos and 12S rRNA genes of 39 species of 21 orders were used to study the early history of modern birds and to discuss the phylogenetic position of the buttonc nails. The results indicate that the galloanserine birds occupy the most basal position among all modern birds, and the modern birds were not evolved from the "transitional shorebirds', one of the few avian survivor of the mass extinction at the Cretaceous- tertiary (K-T) boundary 65 Myr ago. The results also show that the neognath was \ araphyly, and the palaeognath was monophyly. Phylogenetic analyses further show that the buttonquails were a basal clade of the neognathous birds (excluding galloanserine birds), and have no sister relationship with cranes. The results suggest tlut the subclass Neornithes could be divided into two infraclass 1-uaves and Neoaves, and the buttonquails belong to orderTurnieitonnes, infraclass Neoaves.2, Nine paired primers of mierosatellites loci form Ardea herodias were used to amplify the microsatellite of 12 herons. The result indicates some pairs got the good products and the amplification effect of Ardeinae