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A HISTORY OF WEAVING: INSIGHTS INTO THE ECOLOGY, EVOLUTION AND BIOGEOGRAPHY OF FAMILY PLOCEIDAE (AVES)
De Silva, Thilina Nethmin
De Silva, Thilina Nethmin
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Abstract
Weaverbirds are a diverse group of passerines with species diversity concentrated
in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite much scientific attention over the years, no comprehensive
phylogenetic hypothesis regarding weaverbird relationships has been produced, limiting
the possibility of evolutionary inferences regarding their illustrious behavior, ecology, and
distribution. Accordingly, this thesis develops a first extensive molecular phylogeny for the
family Ploceidae, based on a multilocus dataset. Using this phylogenetic framework, I
attempt to explore an array of evolutionary hypotheses, related to behavioral and
ecological evolution, biogeography, and evolutionary history of the family, using diverse
comparative phylogenetic methods. Finally, I attempt to use the synthesis of my results to
understand how different evolutionary phenomena have shaped the current diversity and
distribution of weaverbirds.
in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite much scientific attention over the years, no comprehensive
phylogenetic hypothesis regarding weaverbird relationships has been produced, limiting
the possibility of evolutionary inferences regarding their illustrious behavior, ecology, and
distribution. Accordingly, this thesis develops a first extensive molecular phylogeny for the
family Ploceidae, based on a multilocus dataset. Using this phylogenetic framework, I
attempt to explore an array of evolutionary hypotheses, related to behavioral and
ecological evolution, biogeography, and evolutionary history of the family, using diverse
comparative phylogenetic methods. Finally, I attempt to use the synthesis of my results to
understand how different evolutionary phenomena have shaped the current diversity and
distribution of weaverbirds.
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Date
2020-12-31
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University of Kansas
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Keywords
Avian systematics, Behavioral ecology, Biogeography, Evolutionary biology, Molecular phylogenetics, Ornithology