Family Tree Gives Clues to Next Endangered Bird Species

The recent completion of a new genetic family tree of the United Kingdom’s birds has thrown new light on attempts to assess which bird species might be most at risk of future endangerment. The family tree – or phylogenetic map – provides a clear depiction of how different species are related. It was compiled by Dr Gavin Thomas from the NERC Center for Population Biology, and when compared to existing lists of endangered bird species, Thomas found that most of the birds currently fighting for survival were grouped together on the same branches of the family tree.

Read more