In recent years, two approaches have emerged for the analysis of character evolution: the largely statistical “convergence” approach and the mainly cladistic “homology” approach. I discuss the strengths and weaknesses of these approaches as they apply to phylogenetic analyses of life-history variation in birds. Using examples from analyses of character variation in swallows, I suggest that the phylogenetic approach yields distinctive insights into the selective role of the environment and other characters of the organism on the evolution of life-history traits. This view thus has the potential of bringing together micro- and macro-evolutionary views of life-history evolution.
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1 February 2000
THE PHYLOGENETIC APPROACH TO AVIAN LIFE HISTORIES: AN IMPORTANT COMPLEMENT TO WITHIN-POPULATION STUDIES
David W. Winkler
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The Condor
Vol. 102 • No. 1
February 2000
Vol. 102 • No. 1
February 2000
birds
character evolution
life-history traits
phylogeny
swallows