Taxonomy as a science has accumulated data and knowledge for more than 250 years. The quality and usefulness of the facts recorded in taxonomic literature has greatly improved from the early... Show moreTaxonomy as a science has accumulated data and knowledge for more than 250 years. The quality and usefulness of the facts recorded in taxonomic literature has greatly improved from the early descriptive texts to the modern data-rich, hypothesis-driven works. Our work illustrates the application of some of the “e-taxonomic” tools and the “New Taxonomy” thinking explored in the introduction. Here, we analyzed specimen data contained in legacy taxonomic literature in Chapters 2 and 3—to observe species distribution of one spider group and genital evolution, respectively—and also explored an integrative perspective that involves describing new taxa and testing phylogenetic hypotheses using molecular and morphological data, as done in Chapter 4 and 5. Show less
The thesis describes the design and evolution of echolocation in the South and Southeast Asian Swiftlets. It starts explaining the molecular phylogenetics of Swiftlets, which is used in subsequent... Show moreThe thesis describes the design and evolution of echolocation in the South and Southeast Asian Swiftlets. It starts explaining the molecular phylogenetics of Swiftlets, which is used in subsequent chapters. Echolocation calls and social vocalisations of Swifts are compared between species and with non-echolocating Swifts and Swiftlets. The following chapters treat potential morphological adaptations in the echolocation system, i.e. in the syrinx, ear, and brain. The final chapters discuss the biogeography of the Swiftlets and integrate the results into an overall hypothesis on the evolution of Swiftlets and their echolocation system. Show less
