BIO431 Avian Systematics and Biogeography (8)
Prerequisite: BIO433 or BIO430
Where did birds come from, when did they first appear and what can we learn from their present-day distribution patterns? These questions form the basis of this subject. As well as examining the origin and diversification of birds, you will be introduced to how patterns of ancestry are discerned, the different concepts used to differentiate species and how biogeographic patterns are studied. Rather than being specifically about birds, this subject focuses on evolutionary biology generally, using birds as worked examples. Along the way, you will be introduced to the main groups of birds worldwide, with an emphasis on the Australasian region.