Publications by authors named "Sarah M Kurtis"
A morphological trait can have multiple functions shaped by varying selective forces. Bare parts in birds, such as wattles, casques and combs, are known to function in both signalling and thermoregulation. Studies have demonstrated such structures are targets of sexual selection via female choice in several species of Galliformes (junglefowl, turkeys and grouse), though other studies have shown some role in thermoregulation (guineafowl).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSome phylogenetic problems remain unresolved even when large amounts of sequence data are analyzed and methods that accommodate processes such as incomplete lineage sorting are employed. In addition to investigating biological sources of phylogenetic incongruence, it is also important to reduce noise in the phylogenomic dataset by using appropriate filtering approach that addresses gene tree estimation errors. We present the results of a case study in manakins, focusing on the very difficult clade comprising the genera Antilophia and Chiroxiphia.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- The study evaluated gut microbiomes across approximately 900 vertebrate species, including mammals and birds, to understand the influence of diet, phylogeny, and physiology on microbiome structure.
- Results showed that in nonflying mammals, gut microbial communities are strongly linked to their diets and evolutionary relationships, while in birds, these correlations are weak.
- Notably, bats exhibited gut microbiomes similar to birds, indicating that adaptations related to flight might disrupt traditional host-microbe relationships found in other mammals.