Research Training Program

Yolanda J. Chacon
New Mexico State University
Las Cruces, New Mexico

Carla J. Dove, Ph.D.
Supervising Scientist
Department of Systematic Biology
Division of Birds

"Microscopic feather characters are unique and amazing structures."

Analysis of feather characters of the Cranes, Rails, and Allies

Microscopic feather analysis is a new tool that Forensic Ornithologists use to search for feather characters that are unique to particular groups of birds. These characters are used in practical applications such as identifying bird species that cause damage to aircraft ("bird strikes"), identifying birds that were used in anthropological artifacts, and in identifying prey remains to determine the diets of other animals. This study examines microscopic feather characters of the cranes, rails, and allies (Avian Order: Gruiformes). Plumulaceous (downy) feather characters (both microscopic and whole feather) of 12 species of birds representing every family in this order were described, photographed and investigated using parsimony analysis to determine if feather characters can provide "phylogenetic signal" and aid in our understanding of the evolution of the birds within this order. Possible evolutionary relationships resulting from feather characters were analyzed separately and in combination with established results from mitochondrial 12S rDNA data. The phylogenetic "trees" obtained from microscopic feather characters agreed with the DNA trees in some terminal taxa relationships within this order: rails were sister taxa; Cariama cristata (seriama) and Choriotis kori (bustard) were sister taxa, and Grus canadensis (crane) and Aramus guarauna (Limpkin) were included in a monophyletic clade. DNA characters suggest Psophia crepitans (trumpeter) as a part of that clade, but feather characters support a Heliornis fulica (sungrebe) relationship. Incongruence in feather and DNA trees is possibly due to the number of characters (26 feather vs. 1237 DNA), and the difficulty in coding multistate feather characters. The results are also complicated by a lack of other morphological data sets for additional comparisons. This study provides evidence that feather characters produce hierarchical trees that show some "natural groupings" in parsimony analysis and supports the idea that these characters can be useful for feather identification and phylogenetic analysis.

This research was supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates program, Award Number DBI 9820303.

Letter of Gratitude