Phylogenetic Relationships of Grouse based on mtDNA Sequences

George Barrowclough (American Museum of Natural History) and I have been collaborating on the study of phylogenetic relationships of grouse. My interest in this research stems from a desire to provide an evolutionary framework for ecological and behavioral work on grouse. To that end we developed a classification of the grouse using mtDNA sequences (see Wildlife Biology 2000; 6:205-211). This study is being expanded to include nuclear genes.

The results of this original study raised other questions about the relationships among grouse taxa. Consequently, through Barrowclough's lab we are more closely examining the phylogeny of blue and ruffed grouse populations.