Phylogenetic relationship of selected sunbirds and spiderhunters (Family Nectariniidae) inferred from partial Mitochondrial DNA Cytochrome Oxidase I gene.

• Main Author: Nurul Ashikeen, Ab Razak
• Format: Final Year Project Report
• Language: English
• Published: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, (UNIMAS) 2008
• Subjects: QL Zoology
• Online Access: http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/32810/2/Nurul%20Ashikeen%20Bt%20Ab%20Razak%20ft.pdf; http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/32810/

study on genetic relationship of selected species within Family Nectariniidae was conducted by using approximately 600-700bp mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) inferred from cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene sequence. Sequences of nine individuals from four species purple-naped sunbird (Hypogramma hypogrammicum), crimson sunbird (Aethopyga siparaja), ruby-cheeked sunbird (Anthreptes singalensis) and little spiderhunter (Arachnothera longirostrata) were examined to construct phylogenetic tree. The phylogenetic relationships were determined using distance Neighbor Joining (NJ), Maximum Parsimony (MP) and Maximum Likelihood (ML) analysis with 491bp length sequences. The results had shown the association between species in this family evolved well, was supported by high bootstrap values. This study indicates that COI gene can be useful to study relations within species as the phylogenetic tree successfully differentiated individuals within species. Further studies on the genetic relationship should be performed by using full sequence of COI gene with more species of family Nectariniidae.