LECTURE 01 - Introduction

Question 1

What is the correct natural classification?

Answer 1

A phylogenetic tree of decent

Question 2

What are the lowest taxonomic units of the phylogenetic tree?

Answer 2

Species are the lowest taxonomic unit whose membership is uncontroversial (usually)

Question 3

What do the nodes and lines represent in a phylogenetic tree?

Answer 3

In a phylogenetic tree, the nodes represent taxa and the lines indicate descent (line = lineage)

Question 4

What does the lineage forwards-in-time constitute of and what is the technical name for this term?

Answer 4

the lineage forwards-in-time constitutes a monophyletic group
a technical name for a monophyletic group is a “clade”

Question 5

How is a monophyletic group diagnosed?

Answer 5

A monophyletic group is diagnosed through its common possession of shared derived characters

Question 6

What is the foundation of zoology, comparative biology, biodiversity, etc.?

Answer 6

The foundation of zoology = comparative biology = biodiversity etc. is a sound knowledge of the major groups of animals

Question 7

What is the phylum problem?

Answer 7

A “kind” is a phylum
A phylum is a monophyletic group that comprises animals having the same fundamental body plan
More technically: a phylum is a clade defined by shared derived characters that are regarded as having some special importance
Like all Linnean categories, it is subjectively defined
To a good approximation, membership of a phylum is not controversial
The natural classification of phyla has been (and continues to be) difficult and controversial

Question 8

What are the two objectives of phylogeny?

Answer 8

A. To understand how one kind of animal evolves from another
B. To discover the relationships of kinds of animals

Question 9

What are the two traditions of phylogeny?

Answer 9

1. Use objective A to derive objective B. This is the classical approach through morphology and development
2. Use objective B to derive objective A. This is the modern approach through DNA sequence

Question 10

What are sister groups?

Answer 10

Sister groups are pairs of taxa more closely related to one another than to any other groups in a phylogeny

Question 11

What are sister groups?

Answer 11

Sister groups are pairs of taxa more closely related to one another than to any other groups in a phylogeny

Question 12

What is the phylogenetic tree comprised of?

Answer 12

Nested sister groups

Question 13

What is the highest taxon whose membership is uncontroversial (usually)?

Answer 13

Phylum