Evolutionary Pathways in Nature: A Phylogenetic ApproachReconstructing phylogenetic trees from DNA sequences has become a popular exercise in many branches of biology, and here the well-known geneticist John Avise explains why. Molecular phylogenies provide a genealogical backdrop for interpreting the evolutionary histories of many other types of biological traits (anatomical, behavioral, ecological, physiological, biochemical and even geographical). Guiding readers on a natural history tour along dozens of evolutionary pathways, the author describes how creatures ranging from microbes to elephants came to possess their current phenotypes. Essential reading for college students, professional biologists and anyone interested in natural history and biodiversity, this book is packed with fascinating examples of evolutionary puzzles from across the animal kingdom; how the toucan got its enormous bill, how reptiles grow back lost limbs and why Arctic fish don't freeze. |
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ancestral character ancestral condition assumed autapomorphy biological classifications Box A3 character-state changes character-state transitions cladistic cladogram co-vary common ancestor component of phenetic derived character descendant nodes dietary habits due to shared evolutionary change evolutionary convergence evolutionary history evolutionary model evolutionary transition example F small low Figure A4 Hennig high extinction risk homoplasy independent contrasts ingroup species ingroup was wing interior nodes internal nodes interpretation left-pass MacClade Maximum likelihood Maximum parsimony ML output molecular genetic data monophyletic group MP analysis null hypothesis number of evolutionary organismal resemblance outgroup parsi patristic similarity PCM analyses phenetic phenotypic character phenotypic data phylogenetic tree phylogenetically related phylogeny plesiomorphic quantitative recon right pass rule 1 rule Schluter shared ancestry sister species sister taxa small-bodied species sources of organismal species are phylogenetically symplesiomorphy synapomorphy three ingroup trait’s values traits X tree branches values for traits values in sister versus whereas the MP wing absence wing presence