Phylogeny and Evolutionary Ecology of Modern Sea ducks Anatidae: Mergini
The Condor 97:233-255 The Cooper Ornithological Society 1995
Abstract. Phylogenetic relationships of modem seaducks (Me&i) were investigated
using a cladistic analysis of 137 morphological characters. The analysis produced a single
tree (consistency index = 0.692, excluding autapomorphies) with complete resolution of the
relationships among the 25 taxa recognized. Phylogenetic inferences include: (1) the eiders
(Polysticta and Somateria) constitute a monophyletic group and are the sister-group of other