Viewing paleobiology through the lens of phylogeny

Colin D Sumrall; Christopher A Brochu

doi:10.1017/S1089332600001674

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Journal article

Viewing paleobiology through the lens of phylogeny

Colin D Sumrall and Christopher A Brochu

The Paleontological Society papers, Vol.14, pp.165-183

Geological Society of America annual meeting; Paleontological Society short course

10/2008

DOI: 10.1017/S1089332600001674

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Abstract

Phylogenetic systematics is the dominant form of taxonomy for most biologists, vertebrate paleontologists and to a lesser degree invertebrate paleontologists. Taxonomies are based strictly on evolutionary relationships with traits of organisms such as morphology and sequence data, being used as evidence for relationships. Two types of taxa are recognized--species that may be monophyletic or paraphyletic and clades that must be monophyletic. The phylogeny is an hypothesis of relationships that can be used to illuminate many areas of paleobiology including: unsampled morphology from incompletely preserved organisms, temporal distribution of taxa, and evolutionary patterns and mechanisms. Consequently, an understanding of phylogenetic assumptions, experimental design, and language are critical for the incorporation of phylogenetic taxonomies into larger studies of paleobiology.

Archosauria

biodiversity

Chordata

cladistics

Coelurosauria

Crocodilia

Diapsida

dinosaurs

Echinodermata

General paleontology

Invertebrata

morphology

phylogeny

Reptilia

Saurischia

taxonomy

Tetrapoda

Theropoda

Vertebrata

Details

Title: Subtitle: Viewing paleobiology through the lens of phylogeny
Creators: Colin D Sumrall - University of Tennessee, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences Knoxville, TN USA United States
Christopher A Brochu - University of Iowa
Contributors: Patricia H Kelley (Editor) - University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Department of Geography and Geology Wilmington, NC USA United States
Richard K Bambach (Editor) - Smithsonian Institution
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: The Paleontological Society papers, Vol.14, pp.165-183
Conference: Geological Society of America annual meeting; Paleontological Society short course
Publisher: Paleontological Society
DOI: 10.1017/S1089332600001674
ISSN: 1089-3326
eISSN: 2399-7575
Alternative title: From evolution to geobiology; research questions driving paleontology at the start of a new century
Language: English
Date published: 10/2008
Academic Unit: University College Courses; Earth and Environmental Sciences
Record Identifier: 9984240910602771

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