Document of bibliographic reference 884

BibliographicReference record

Type

Bibliographic resource

Type of document

Journal article

BibLvlCode

AS

Title

Choosing among poriferan morphological characters within the cladistic paradigm

Abstract

A protocol is proposed by which certain classes of characters may be selected for use in phylogenetic reconstruction due to their overall better consistency in phylogenies. Alternatively, they could receive additional weight as opposed to classes that show an overall poor consistency and should be down weighted. We recognized 16 classes of characters within previously published data matrices of 17 poriferan phylogenies involving 221 OTUs (Operational Taxonomic Units, = terminal taxa). Only five classes occur in samples of large enough size that can allow discussion of observed trends. The high consistency observed in choanosomal architecture characters is possibly an artefact. Megascleres and microscleres show opposing results and these are discussed with reference to function and adaptation. In general, results are deemed preliminary because sample sizes are too small for the majority of recognized classes of characters, and different classes of characters may perform differently in different taxa, a suspicion which calls for an even larger sample base.

Bibliographic citation

Hajdu, E.; Van Soest, R.W.M. (1996). Choosing among poriferan morphological characters within the cladistic paradigm. Bull. Kon. Belg. Inst. Natuurwet. Biologie 66(Suppl.): 81-88

Topic

Marine

Is peer reviewed

true