Journal article
Phylogenetic comparative analysis of functional morphology sheds light on the evolution of seasonal migration in nightingale-thrushes (Turdidae: Catharus)
Scientific reports, v 15(1), 25951
17 Jul 2025
PMID: 40676108
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
This study investigates the evolution of locomotory morphology and migratory behavior in nightingale-thrushes (genus
Catharus
), a clade of songbirds with diverse migratory strategies. With large datasets of molecular and morphometric characters, we resolve phylogenetic relationships, identify and model migration-related morphological characters, and estimate ancestral states of those characters to infer evolutionary transitions in the migratory phenotype. While acknowledging that unknown factors (e.g., differential extinction) may confound interpretation, our results suggest that (1) migratory behavior and its functional morphology are fundamentally linked; (2) short-distance or elevational migration (not long-distance) was the ancestral state of
Catharus
; (3) short-distance migration was the evolutionary precursor of long-distance migration; and (4) the short-distance migrant, Hermit Thrush (
C. guttatus
), may be in relative phenotypic (ecological) stasis. This potentially explains the ecological incumbency of
C. guttatus
in temperate North America during winter, and offers a new framework for interpreting the evolutionary sequence that produced long-distance migration in this model system.
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Details
- Title
- Phylogenetic comparative analysis of functional morphology sheds light on the evolution of seasonal migration in nightingale-thrushes (Turdidae: Catharus)
- Creators
- Matthew R. Halley - Drexel UniversityTherese A. Catanach - Drexel UniversityJohn Klicka - Burke Museum of Natural History and CultureJason D. Weckstein - Drexel University
- Publication Details
- Scientific reports, v 15(1), 25951
- Publisher
- Nature Publishing Group
- Number of pages
- 12
- Grant note
- ANSP Ornithology Department, Drexel UniversityWilliam L. McLean III FellowshipNational Science Foundation (NSF): DEB-1855812, DEB-2203228
Three anonymous reviewers provided helpful criticism of the manuscript. Early drafts were reviewed by N. H. Rice, R. M. McCourt, G. Rosenberg and J. A. Russell. Funding came from the ANSP Ornithology Department, Drexel University, the William L. McLean III Fellowship awarded to MRH, the DMNH Bird Department, and National Science Foundation (NSF) grants awarded to JDW (DEB-1855812) and TAC and JDW (DEB-2203228). Fieldwork by the lead author (MRH) was conducted under USFWS Migratory Bird Permit MB019575-1, assisted by J. Y. Sweeney and M. Gerveni. Dorothy M. Stoffa permitted MRH to collect on private property. For tissue and specimen loans, we thank S. Birks (UWBM), G. W. Shugart, D. R. Paulson (University of Puget Sound), J. Perez-Eman (Universidad Central de Venezuela, Instituto de Zoologia y Ecologia Tropical and Coleccion Ornitolologia Phelps), F. H. Sheldon, R. T. Brumfield, D. L. Dittmann, S. W. Cardiff, N. A. Mason, S. Perez-Pena (LSUMZ), J. J. Kirchman (New York State Museum), R. C. K. Bowie, C. Cicero (Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California Berkeley), J. Fjeldsa, J. B. Kristensen (Zoological Museum, Natural History Museum of Denmark), B. D. Marks, S. J. Hackett, J. M. Bates (FMNH), M. B. Robbins (University of Kansas, Biodiversity Institute), J. L. Woods (DMNH), C. M. Heckscher (Delaware State University), J. L. Cracraft, P. R. Sweet, T. J. Trombone, B. Bird, P. Capainolo (AMNH). For collections assistance, we thank B. D. Marks, S. S. Brady, S. W. Cardiff, P. R. Sweet, B. K. Schmidt, C. M. Milensky, C. J. Dove, J. R. Saucier, N. H. Rice, J. L. Woods, and J. Trimble. For laboratory assistance, we thank J. H. Dispoto and S. Palhano. For helpful comments during our revision, we thank E. V. Griffith, J. T. Merwin, L. J. Musher, K. M. D. Kuabara, S. J. Hagler, and M. A. Perez-Perez. We also thank the many collectors, preparators, field assistants, and collections staff from the institutions named above and those that uploaded mass data from specimens in their care to VertNet.org.
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Biodiversity, Earth, and Environmental Science (BEES); Ornithology
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001531692900038
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-105011058464
- Other Identifier
- 991022064981804721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Evolutionary Biology