Current research in the lab is focused around two main projects:  

1.  Molecular Phylogenetics of Tanagers and Tanager-Finches

The tanagers and tanager-finches represent a major radiation of well over 400 species of Neotropical birds.  Species in this group vary in many characters including plumage brightness, sexual dimorphism in plumage, morphology, song, and migratory patterns. We are reconstructing a phylogeny for all tanagers and tanager-finches using a variety of nuclear and mitochondrial markers. This phylogeny has implications for the evolution of a variety of characters important in avian systems. In particular, we are focusing on two classical subjects of evolutionary biology:  sexual selection and adaptive evolution of feeding morphology.  

2.  Comparative Phylogeography of California Avifauna

We are studying genetic variation in a suite of bird species whose distributions are centered within the California Floristic Province.  The goal is to describe how different species have responded over time to biogeographic changes.  Although genetic variation within many species of vertebrates have been studied in this region, very few birds have been investigated.  By combining data from these different species, a better understanding of the biogeography of the region should emerge.  This is important for understanding the impact of past geologic events and habitat changes on species' distributions.  So far, we have surveyed genetic variation in three co-distributed species:  the California Thrasher, the Wrentit, and the White-headed Woodpecker.  In addition, we have preliminary data from several other species.  By studying multiple species, we will be able to address whether all species responded in the same way to the same biogeographic events. That is, what is the historical pattern of community structure?  Have some species co-existed in the same community and habitat longer than others?  Are some species more likely to undergo range expansions and habitat shifts? 

Publications:

Burns, K. J., M. P. Alexander, D. N. Barhoum, and E. A. Sgariglia.  2007.  A statistical assessment of congruence among phylogeographic histories of three avian species in the California Floristic Province.  Pages 96-109 in Festschrift for Ned K. Johnson:  Geographic Variation and Evolution in Birds (C. Cicero and J. V. Remsen, Jr., Eds.).  Ornithological Monographs, no. 63. pdf

Shepherd, T. M. and K. J. Burns.  2007.  Intraspecific genetic analysis of the Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra):  Implications for species limits and conservation.  Journal of Avian Biology 38: 13-27. pdf 

Alexander, M. P. and K. J. Burns.  2006.  Intraspecific phylogeography and adaptive divergence in the White-headed Woodpecker.  The Condor 108:  489-518.  pdf

Burns, K. J. and D. N. Barhoum.  2006.  Population-level history of the wrentit (Chamaea fasciata):  Implications for comparative phylogeography in the California Floristic Province.  Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 38: 117-129. pdf

Burns, K. J., and K. Naoki.  2004.  Molecular phylogenetics and biogeography of Neotropical tanagers in the genus Tangara.  Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 32: 838-854.  pdf

Klein, N. K., Burns, K. J., Hacket, S. J., and Griffiths, C. S. 2004.   Molecular phylogenetic relationships among the wood warblers (Parulidae) and historical biogeography in the Caribbean basin.  Journal of Caribbean Ornithology Vol. 17, Special Issue Honoring Nedra Klein: 3-17. pdf

Burns, K. J., S. J. Hackett, and N. K. Klein.  2003.  Phylogenetic relationships of Neotropical honeycreepers and the evolution of feeding morphology.  Journal of Avian Biology 34: 360-370. pdf   

Sgariglia, E. A. and Burns, K. J.  2003.  Phylogeography of the California Thrasher (Toxostoma redivivum) based on nested-clade analysis of mitochondrial-DNA variation.  The Auk 120: 346-361.  pdf

Burns, K. J., S. J. Hackett, and N. K. Klein.  2002.  Phylogenetic relationships and morphological diversity in Darwin's finches and their relatives.  Evolution 56: 1240-1252. pdf

Barhoum, D. N. and K. J. Burns.  2002.  Phylogenetic relationships of the Wrentit based on mitochondrial cytochrome b sequences.  The Condor 104: 740-749. pdf  

Ditchfield, A. and Burns, K. J.  1998.  DNA sequences reveal phylogeographic similarities between Neotropical bats and birds.  Journal of Comparative Biology 3: 165-170.  

Burns, K. J. 1998. A phylogenetic perspective on the evolution of sexual dichromatism in tanagers (Thraupidae): The role of female versus male plumage. Evolution 52: 1219-1224. pdf

Burns, K. J. 1998. Molecular phylogenetics of the genus Piranga: implications for biogeography and the evolution of morphology and behavior. Auk 115: 621-634. pdf 

Burns, K. J. 1997. Molecular systematics of tanagers (Thraupinae): evolution and biogeography of a diverse radiation of Neotropical birds. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 8: 334-348. pdf 

Burns, K. J. 1993. Comparative ontogeny of two morphologically differentiated populations of the Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca). Condor 95: 652-661. pdf 

Burns, K. J. and S. J. Hackett. 1993. Nest and nest-site characteristics of a western population of the Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca). Southwestern Naturalist 238: 277-279. pdf