A new time tree of birds reveals the interplay between dispersal, geographic range size, and diversification
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
The spatial and temporal dynamics of biodiversity are shaped by complex interactions among species characteristics and geographic processes. A key example is the effect of dispersal on geographical range expansion and gene flow, both of which may determine speciation rates. In this study, we constructed a time-calibrated phylogeny of over 9,000 bird species and leveraged extensive data on avian traits and spatial occurrence to explore the connections between dispersal, biogeography, and speciation. Phylogenetic path analyses and trait-dependent diversification models reveal that geographic range size is strongly associated with the hand-wing index, a proxy for wing aspect ratio related to flight efficiency and dispersal ability. By contrast, we found mixed evidence for the effect of dispersal on diversification rates: dispersive lineages show either slightly higher speciation rates or higher extinction rates. Our results therefore suggest that high dispersal ability increases range expansion and turnover, perhaps because dispersive lineages expand into islands or other geographically restricted environments and have lower population sizes. Our results highlight the nuanced and interconnected roles of dispersal and range size in shaping global patterns of avian diversification and biogeography and provide a richly sampled phylogenetic template for exploring a wide array of research questions in macroecology and macroevolution.
Date Issued
2025-08-18
Date Acceptance
2025-07-01
Citation
Current Biology, 2025, 35 (16), pp.3883-3895.e4
ISSN
0960-9822
Publisher
Cell Press
Start Page
3883
End Page
3895.e4
Journal / Book Title
Current Biology
Volume
35
Issue
16
Copyright Statement
© 2025 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
Identifier
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/40744014
PII: S0960-9822(25)00870-X
Subjects
AVIAN TREE
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Biology
Cell Biology
DIVERGENCE
DIVERSITY
EVOLUTION
EXTINCTION
LARGE-SCALE
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Life Sciences & Biomedicine - Other Topics
PATTERNS
PHYLOGENY
RADIATION
Science & Technology
SPECIATION
Publication Status
Published
Coverage Spatial
England
Date Publish Online
2025-07-30