Per Alström
Researcher at Department of Ecology and Genetics; Animal Ecology
- Telephone:
- +46 18 471 27 02
- Mobile phone:
- +46 70 454 69 65
- E-mail:
- per.alstrom@ebc.uu.se
- Visiting address:
- Evolutionsbiologiskt centrum (EBC)
Norbyvägen 18 D - Postal address:
- Norbyvägen 18 D
752 36 UPPSALA
Download contact information for Per Alström at Department of Ecology and Genetics; Animal Ecology
- CV:
- Download CV
- ORCID:
- 0000-0001-7182-2763
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Short presentation
My research concerns taxonomy, systematics and evolution of birds, especially Asian passerines. See further under the headings below.
Keywords
- birds
- evolution
- ornithology
- systematics
- taxonomy
Biography
Professor
Former employments at Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing; Swedish Species Information Centre, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Uppsala; and Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm
Deputy Editor-In-Chief Avian Research (in the BMC group)
Associate Editor Birds of the World (hosted by Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca, USA)
Fellow International The Explorers Club
Fellow The Linnean Society
Research
My research concerns taxonomy, systematics and evolution of birds, especially Asian passerines.
Avian tree of life
I use molecular data to reconstruct the phylogeny ("tree of life") of different groups of birds. I have been involved in comprehensive studies of multiple avian families, which have revealed previously unexpected relationships and complex evolutionary patterns; e.g. Emberizidae (Alström et al. 2008), Acrocephalidae (Fregin et al. 2009), Muscicapidae (Sangster et al. 2010), Cettiidae (Alström et al. 2011), Locustellidae (Alström et al. 2011, Alström et al. 2018), Alaudidae (Alström et al. 2013, Alström et al. 2023), Cisticolidae (Olsson et al. 2013), Prunellidae (Liu et al. 2017), Phylloscopidae (Alström et al. 2018), the 2–7 ‘babbler’ families (depending on taxonomy; Gelang et al. 2009, Cibois et al. 2018, Cai et al. 2019), Laniidae (Fuchs et al. 2019) and Estrildidae (Olsson & Alström 2020), and the superfamily Sylvioidea (Alström et al. 2006, Fregin et al. 2012; review paper: Alström et al. 2013) and the large Passerida clade (including description of a new family of birds: Alström et al. 2014), as well as the first genomic-level studies of all passerine families (Oliveros et al. 2019) and all avian orders (Jarvis et al. 2014).
I have also been involved in phylogenetic and/or phylogeographic studies of smaller groups, such as genera of parts of genera, e.g. Acrocephalus (Olsson et al. 2016), Aegithalos (Wang et al. 2014, Zhang et al. 2017), Anthus (Alström et al. 2015), Alaudala (Ghorbani et al. 2020), Calandrella (Stervander et al. 2016), Cyornis (Zhang et al. 2016, Singh et al. 2020), Eremophila (Ghorbani et al. 2020), Ficedula (Hooper et al. 2016), Heteromirafra (Spottiswoode et al. 2013), Larvivora (Zhao et al. 2017), Motacilla (Alström et al. 2015, Li et al. 2016, Harris et al. 2018), Phylloscopus/Seicercus (Irwin et al. 2001, Olsson et al. 2004, Olsson et al. 2005), Pica (Song et al. 2018), Scotocerca (Alström et al. 2011), Tichodroma (Zhao et al. 2016), Turdus (Nylander et al. 2008) and Zoothera (Olsson & Alström 2013).
Taxonomy of birds
I use an integrative taxonomic approach, involving analyses of e.g. morphology, vocalisations, behaviour, DNA, ecology and geographical distributions, to study the taxonomy of birds. These studies have resulted in a significant increase in the number of recognised species in the studied groups, including the description of seven new species and three new subspecies to science. E.g. within the genera Acrocephalus, Alaudala (Alström et al. 2021), Brachypteryx (Alström et al. 2018), Calandrella (Alström & Sundev 2021; Stervander et al. 2020; incl. new subspecies: Calandrella cinerea rufipecta), Carpodacus (Liu et al. 2020), Calliope (Liu et al. 2016), Cyornis (Zhang et al. 2016, Gwee et al. 2019, Singh et al. 2020), Emberiza (Olsson et al. 2013), Eremophila (Ghorbani et al. 2020), Ficedula (Dong et al. 2015), Horornis/Cettia (Alström et al. 2007, Wei et al. 2019), Lanius (Olsson et al. 2009), Locustella/Bradypterus (Alström et al. 2008, Alström et al. 2015, incl. new species: L. chengi), Motacilla (Duckworth et al. 2001, new species: M. samveasnae), Mirafra (Alström 1998), Phylloscopus/Seicercus (Alström & Olsson 1990, Alström & Olsson 1992, Alström et al. 1993, Olsson et al. 1993, new specie: P. hainanus; Alström & Olsson 1995, new species: P. emeiensis; Alström et al. 1995, Alström et al. 1997, Alström & Olsson 1999, incl. new species: S. soror; Alström & Olsson 2000, Alström et al. 2010, incl. new species: P. calciatilis, Alström et al. 2011, Zhang et al. 2019, Zhang et al. 2021), Pica (Song et al. 2018), Prinia (Alström et al. 2020; incl. new subspecies: P. polychroa deignani; Alström et al. 2021, incl. a new subspecies P. gracilis ashi), Sylvia (Olsson et al. 2013) and Zoothera (Alström et al. 2016, incl. new species: Z. salimalii).
Evolution of birds
I am also very interested in various evolutionary questions, and I have been involved in studies of such diverse subjects as speciation (e.g. Alström et al. 2015, Semenov et al. 2021), evolution of different geographical avifaunas (Johansson et al. 2007, Price et al. 2014, Lei et al. 2015, He et al. 2019, Cai et al. 2020), evolution of vocalisations of some passerine groups (Xia et al. 2013, Xing et al. 2013, Wei et al. 2017), evolution of UV vision in shorebirds (Ödeen et al. 2009) and passerines (Ödeen et al. 2011), biogeography of several groups of birds (Saitoh et al. 2010, Song et al. 2016, Liu et al. 2017, Song et al. 2020), pitfalls of comparisons of genetic distances (Fregin et al. 2012), species concepts (Alström 2006), and genome evolution (Zhang et al. 2014). These studies have used an array of data, e.g. phylogenetic, morphological, ecological, paleoclimatic, and distributional (including “big data” from e.g. GBIF), and a plethora of analytical methods.
Download CV for complete publication list.
See also ResearchGate and ORCID
Talks and interviews on my research
See Media, above.
Media
Here are various talks, presentations and interviews that I've given in recent years.
More media can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8nXUslKxKPRtmhsLo5z9tQ
and here: https://search.macaulaylibrary.org/catalog?userId=USER746813
Talk on the passerine bird tree of life
Talk on my research on the evolutionary history of the largest avian radiation, the passerines.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaBXqldwIQo
Talk on the identification of vagrant Asian leaf warblers
I talk on the identification of Asian leaf warblers that are vagrants in Europe.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gA04atLT8i8
Urban and suburban birding: Common Kingfisher
Here I promote birding in urban/suburban habitats, focusing on the Common Kingfisher.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuB4GdF_jg4
Urban and suburban birding: Slavonian Grebe
Here I promote birding in urban/suburban habitats, focusing on a small lake at Uppsala with Slavonian Grebes, Red-necked Grebes, Common Goldeneye, Eurasian Coot and other birds.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6yBvfbjrgI
Presentation of my ornithological explorations in China and Mongolia
I give a brief presentation of my ornithological explorations in China and Mongolia since the 1980s (starting at c. 44 mins). Other Swedish members of the Explorers Club present their explorations.
Talk on identification of Asian vagrant birds to Europe
Talk (sound and pdf) on the identification of some Asian birds that turn up as vagrants in Europe.
https://birdingbeijing.com/tag/per-alstrom/
Interview on Radio Beijing International
I'm interviewed on Radio Beijing International about my travels and ornithological research in China over more than 30 years
https://www.shanghaibirding.com/alstrom-radio-beijing/
Are there more hidden species to be discovered?
Discussion with David Lindo, a.k.a. The Urban Birder, on e.g. bird taxonomy.
https://theurbanbirderworld.com/in-conservation-with/per-alstrom/
Presentation of the Swedish Taxonomy Initiative
Lecture at conference arranged by the Swedish Species Information Centre in 2017
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuDI0XnX33c&list=PL87ADN0C2pAOTDeL4UJSA3RJmKF5osi6J&index=2
Taxonomy: the mysteries surrounding the birds we watch
Discussion with David Lindo, a.k.a. The Urban Birder on bird taxonomy, with examples from my research
https://theurbanbirderworld.com/in-conservation-with/per-alstrom-october-2020/
Urban and suburban birding: River Fyris
Here I promote birding in urban/suburban habitats, walking along the river that runs through Uppsala
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpKAX5n8UJY
Urban and suburban birding: forest birds
Here I promote birding in urban/suburban habitats, focusing on common forest birds at Uppsala
In the footsteps of Linnaeus – modern studies of the avian diversity
Popular science talk in Swedish on some recent studies of the avian diversity.
Birdwatching at Uppsala – conclusions
Summary of films on birdwatching at Uppsala
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2W74oDfgxpk
Research pod - interview (Swedish)
https://www.uu.se/nyheter/artikel/?id=14282&typ=artikel&lang=sv
The superfamily Sylvioidea – a tree full of surprises
Plenary talk at the First Asian Ornithological Conference (2021) on the superfamily Sylvioidea, in which many odd relationships have been revealed through DNA analyses.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Brb97nit3YM
Research pod Uppsala University
I'm interviewed in Swedish about my ornithological research
https://www.uu.se/nyheter/artikel/?id=14282&typ=artikel
Interview on Swedish Radio about a new bird species: Sichuan Bush Warbler
https://sverigesradio.se/artikel/6160864
Interview on Swedish Radio about bird systematics
https://sverigesradio.se/artikel/7102508
50 years of bird studies
This lecture, with the title "Bird identification and taxonomy: what we knew 50 years ago and what we know today", was given at BirdLife Finland's 50th Anniversary in Helsinki on 9 Dec 2023.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDuUMbUOXJs
Publications
Recent publications
- When colors mislead (2024)
- Gene flow and an anomaly zone complicate phylogenomic inference in a rapidly radiated avian family (Prunellidae) (2024)
- Integrative taxonomy of an East Asian songbird indicates rapid dwarfism after island colonization (2024)
- Phylogenetic Conflict Between Species Tree and Maternally Inherited Gene Trees in a Clade of Emberiza Buntings (Aves: Emberizidae) (2024)
- Mediterranean Short-toed Lark (Alaudala rufescens) (2023)
All publications
Articles
- When colors mislead (2024)
- Gene flow and an anomaly zone complicate phylogenomic inference in a rapidly radiated avian family (Prunellidae) (2024)
- Integrative taxonomy of an East Asian songbird indicates rapid dwarfism after island colonization (2024)
- Phylogenetic Conflict Between Species Tree and Maternally Inherited Gene Trees in a Clade of Emberiza Buntings (Aves: Emberizidae) (2024)
- Integrative taxonomy reveals unrecognised species diversity in African Corypha larks (Aves: Alaudidae) (2023)
- Systematics of the avian family Alaudidae using multilocus and genomic data (2023)
- Molecular and acoustic evidence support the species status of Anthus rubescens rubescens and Anthus [rubescens] japonicus (Passeriformes (2023)
- Disjunct resident population of Melodious Lark Mirafra cheniana discovered in East Africa (2023)
- The formation of the Indo-Pacific montane avifauna (2023)
- Genome-wide SNPs confirm plumage polymorphism and hybridisation within a Cyornis flycatcher species complex (2023)
- Introgression Underlies Phylogenetic Uncertainty But Not Parallel Plumage Evolution in a Recent Songbird Radiation (2023)
- Limited Song Mixing Without Genomic Gene Flow in a Contact Zone Between Two Songbird Species (2023)
- Genomic and phenotypic changes associated with alterations of migratory behaviour in a songbird (2023)
- Recent Northward Expansion of a Passerine Bird Species, Brownish-Flanked Bush Warbler (Horornis fortipes) (2023)
- A near-complete and time-calibrated phylogeny of the Old World flycatchers, robins and chats (Aves, Muscicapidae) (2023)
- Cryptic species in a colorful genus (2022)
- Morphology, vocalizations, and mitochondrial DNA suggest that the Graceful Prinia is two species (2021)
- Mongolian Short-toed LarkCalandrella dukhunensis, an overlooked East Asian species (2021)
- Multiple species delimitation approaches applied to the avian lark genus Alaudala (2021)
- Taxonomic status of grey-headed Yellow Wagtails breeding in western China (2021)
- A new genus for the White-tailed Flycatcher Cyornis concretus (Aves (2021)
- Asymmetric introgression reveals the genetic architecture of a plumage trait (2021)
- Most Genomic Loci Misrepresent the Phylogeny of an Avian Radiation Because of Ancient Gene Flow (2021)
- Multiple species within the Striated Prinia Prinia crinigera-Brown Prinia P. polychroa complex revealed through an integrative taxonomic approach (2020)
- The role of evolutionary time, diversification rates and dispersal in determining the global diversity of a large radiation of passerine birds (2020)
- Mitochondrial phylogeography of the genus Eremophila confirms underestimated species diversity in the Palearctic (2020)
- Densely sampled phylogenetic analyses of the Lesser Short-toed Lark (Alaudala rufescens) - Sand Lark (A. raytal) species complex (Aves, Passeriformes) reveal cryptic diversity (2020)
- Taxonomic revision of the Long-tailed RosefinchCarpodacus sibiricuscomplex (2020)
- A comprehensive phylogeny and taxonomic evaluation of the waxbills (Aves (2020)
- Taxonomy of cryptic species in theCyornis rubeculoidescomplex in the Indian subcontinent (2020)
- Great journey of Great Tits (Parus major group) (2020)
- Molecular Species Delimitation of Larks (Aves: Alaudidae), and Integrative Taxonomy of the Genus Calandrella, with the Description of a Range-Restricted African Relic Taxon (2020)
- Near-complete phylogeny and taxonomic revision of the world's babblers (Aves: Passeriformes) (2019)
- Miocene diversification of an open-habitat predatorial passerine radiation, the shrikes (Aves: Passeriformes: Laniidae) (2019)
- Cryptic diversity in Cyornis (Ayes (2019)
- Elevational patterns of bird species richness on the eastern slope of Mt. Gongga, Sichuan Province, China (2019)
- Earth history and the passerine superradiation (2019)
- From the Himalayas to a continental Island (2019)
- "Ghost Introgression" As a Cause of Deep Mitochondrial Divergence in a Bird Species Complex (2019)
- Comprehensive molecular phylogeny of the grassbirds and allies (Locustellidae) reveals extensive non-monophyly of traditional genera, and a proposal for a new classification (2018)
- Taxonomy of the White-browed Shortwing (Brachypteryx montana) complex on mainland Asia and Taiwan (2018)
- Complete species-level phylogeny of the leaf warbler (Aves: Phylloscopidae) radiation (2018)
- Comprehensive phylogeny of the laughingthrushes and allies (Aves, Leiothrichidae) and a proposal for a revised taxonomy (2018)
- Discordance between genomic divergence and phenotypic variation in a rapidly evolving avian genus (Motacilla) (2018)
- Complete taxon sampling of the avian genus Pica (magpies) reveals ancient relictual populations and synchronous Late-Pleistocene demographic expansion across the Northern Hemisphere (2018)
- Possible mechanisms of substrate colour-matching in larks (Alaudidae) and their taxonomic implications (2017)
- Explosive radiation and spatial expansion across the cold environments of the Old World in an avian family (2017)
- The evolutionary origin of variation in song length and frequency in the avian family Cettiidae (2017)
- Genomic differentiation and patterns of gene flow between two long-tailed tit species (Aegithalos) (2017)
- Phylogenetic relationships, song and distribution of the endangered Rufous-headed Robin Larvivora ruficeps (2017)
- Phylogenetic position of the Wallcreeper Tichodroma muraria (2017)
- Integrative taxonomy of the Plain-backed Thrush (Zoothera mollissima) complex (Aves, Turdidae) reveals cryptic species, including a new species (2016)
- The Rusty-tailed Flycatcher (Muscicapa ruficauda; Ayes: Muscicapidae) is a member of the genus Ficedula (2016)
- Shaped by uneven Pleistocene climate: mitochondrial phylogeographic pattern and population history of White Wagtail Motacilla alba (Aves: Passeriformes). (2016)
- Species delimitation of the white-tailed rubythroat Calliope pectoralis complex (Aves, Muscicapidae) using an integrative taxonomic approach (2016)
- Mitochondrial phylogeny of the Eurasian/African reed warbler complex (Acrocephalus, Aves). Disagreement between morphological and molecular evidence and cryptic divergence (2016)
- Niltavinae, a new taxon of Old World flycatchers (Aves (2016)
- A zoogeographical boundary between the Palaearctic and Sino-Japanese realms documented by consistent north/south phylogeographical divergences in three woodland birds in eastern China (2016)
- Multiple instances of paraphyletic species and cryptic taxa revealed by mitochondrial and nuclear RAD data for Calandrella larks (Aves: Alaudidae) (2016)
- Stable isotopes and mtDNA reveal niche segregation but no evidence of intergradation along a habitat gradient in the Lesser Whitethroat complex (Sylvia curruca; Passeriformes; Aves) (2016)
- Stable isotopes and mtDNA reveal niche segregation but no evidence of intergradation along a habitat gradient in the Lesser Whitethroat complex (Sylvia curruca; Passeriformes; Aves) (2016)
- Phylogenetic position of the Wallcreeper Tichodroma muraria (2016)
- Dramatic niche shifts and morphological change in two insular bird species (2015)
- Comparative phylogeography of two widespread magpies (2012)
- Evolution of ultraviolet vision in the largest avian radiation (2011)
- Old divergences in a boreal bird supports long-term survival through the Ice Ages (2010)
- Evolution of ultraviolet vision in shorebirds (Charadriiformes) (2010)
- Evolution of ultraviolet vision in shorebirds (Charadriiformes) (2010)
- Phylogeny and classification of the avian superfamily Sylvioidea (2006)
- Phylogeography of Indonesian and Sino-Himalayan region bush warblers (Cettia, Aves) (2006)
- Non-monophyletic taxa and cryptic species - Evidence from a molecular phylogeny of leaf-warblers (Phylloscopus, Aves) (2005)
- Non-monophyletic taxa and cryptic species - Evidence from a molecular phylogeny of leaf-warblers (Phylloscopus, Aves) (2005)
- Non-monophyly of the avian genus Seicercus (Aves (2004)
- Cryptic species in the genus Phylloscopus (Old World leaf warblers) (2001)
- Golden-spectacled Warbler systematics (2000)
- The Golden spectacled Warbler: a complex of sibling species, including a previously undescribed species (1999)
Chapters
- How new species evolve (2020)
- Superfamily Muscicapoidea (2020)
- Superfamily Sylvioidea, the Old World warblers and their allies (2020)
- An updated classification of passerine birds (2020)
- The finch-billed passerine groups (2020)
Other
- Mediterranean Short-toed Lark (Alaudala rufescens) (2023)
- Turkestan Short-toed Lark (Alaudala heinei) (2023)
- Asian Short-toed Lark (Alaudala cheleensis) (2023)
- Sharpe's Lark (Mirafra sharpii) (2022)
- Delicate Prinia (Prinia lepida) (2022)
- Horsfield's Bushlark (Mirafra javanica) (2022)
- Sand Lark (Alaudala raytal) (2022)
- Graceful Prinia (Prinia gracilis) (2022)
- Mongolian Short-toed Lark (Calandrella dukhunensis) (2021)