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Understanding Macrotaxonomy Methods

This document discusses different approaches to macrotaxonomy, or the classification of organisms above the species level. It describes downward and upward classification methods used historically, as well as evolutionary/Darwinian classification based on genealogy and similarity. Current approaches include cladistics, which relies solely on phylogeny, and numerical phenetics, which uses statistical analysis of multiple character states. Both have weaknesses, and an ideal classification balances genealogy with similarity based on homologous and analogous traits.

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Janiah Allani
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7K views21 pages

Understanding Macrotaxonomy Methods

This document discusses different approaches to macrotaxonomy, or the classification of organisms above the species level. It describes downward and upward classification methods used historically, as well as evolutionary/Darwinian classification based on genealogy and similarity. Current approaches include cladistics, which relies solely on phylogeny, and numerical phenetics, which uses statistical analysis of multiple character states. Both have weaknesses, and an ideal classification balances genealogy with similarity based on homologous and analogous traits.

Uploaded by

Janiah Allani
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
  • Macrotaxonomy
  • The Classification of Species
  • Downward Classification
  • Phylogenetic Tree Example
  • Upward Classification
  • Holothuroidea Example
  • Evolutionary or Darwinian Classification
  • Taxonomy Types
  • Monophyletic
  • Homology
  • Homoplasy
  • Wing Homoplasy Illustration
  • Convergent Evolution Example
  • Mammalian Phylogeny
  • Numerical Phenetics
  • Phyletic Table Example
  • Genetic Sequence Comparison
  • Phenetics: Weaknesses
  • Cladification
  • Cladification: Weaknesses
  • Conclusion

MACROTAXONOMY

The Classica3on of Species


Branch of
taxonomy that
deals with the
classica3on of
organisms above
the species level.
Even today, there
is no consensus
among
taxonomists as to
which is the best
method of
classifying.

Downward Classica3on
The prevailing method of classica3on during the
peak of medicinal botany during the Renaissance.
Proceeds by dividing large classes into subsets
(Aristotles logical method of division,
dichotomous system)
Relied en3rely on single characters
The series/sequence of characters are arbitrarily
chosen by the taxonomists controlled by the
classes produced by dichotomous divisions.

Upward Classica3on
From about 1770 (promoted by Linnaeus and
Adanson)
Consist of assembling species by inspec3on
into taxa consis3ng of similar or related
species.
Failed to developed rigorous methodology
(employed arbitrarily)

Evolu3onary or Darwinian
Classica3on

Classica3on should be based on genealogy


(common descent) and degree of similarity
(amount of evolu3onary change).

Monophyle3c
Each natural taxon consist of the descendants
of the nearest common ancestors
Descent not a replacement for the criterion
similarity but rather a constraint on the kind
of similarity that is acceptable as evidence of
rela3onship
Must be based on balanced considera3on of
genealogy and similarity.

Homology
Feature in two or more taxa is homologous
when it is derived phylogene3ccaly from the
same feature of the common ancestor

Homoplasy
Convergence independent acquisi3on of the
same feature by unrelated evolu3onary lineages
Parallelism is the independent realiza3on of a
character in two related lineages owing to a
gene3c predisposi3on even though it was not
phenotypically expressed in the common
ancestor.
Reversal is the independent loss of the same
advanced character in several linages of a
phylogeny

Numerical Phene3cs
Avoid all subjec3vity and arbitrariness by
sor3ng species with numerical methods into
groups agreeing in a large numbers of joint
characters.
Believe that descendants of a common
ancestors will share mul3plicity of characters
that will automa3cally land a well dened
taxa.

Phene3cs: weaknesses
Cumbersome method requiring analysis of
very large numbers and failed to weigh
characters accordingly considering dierent
taxonomic signicance
No methodology for ranking taxa
Fails to consider evolu3onary rates
Changes depending on characters used
It cannot be improved gradually

Cladica3on
Relies en3rely on genealogy (Willi Hennig
1950)
Unques3oned apomorphies (shared derived
characters) should be recognized while
ancestral (plesiomorphic) characters should
be ignored.
Consist simply of branches of the phylogene3c
tree without giving any considera3on to
similarity

Cladica3on: Weaknesses
Most clades are heterogeneous
Either the stem species o`en has tradi3onally been
included in the ancestral taxon
The requirement that sister groups should be assigned
the same taxonomic rank is unrealis3c
No valid theory of ranking
Every new synapomorphy in a stem species requires
the assignment of new categorical ranking
All nonapomorphic characters are neglected
Reects one sided rela3onships

End
of
Presenta3on

MACROTAXONOMY  
The  Classifica3on  of  Species   • Branch  of   taxonomy  that   deals  with  the   classifica3on  of
Downward  Classifica3on   • The  prevailing  method  of  classifica3on  during  the   peak  of  medicinal
Upward  Classifica3on   • From  about  1770  (promoted  by  Linnaeus  and   Adanson)   • Consist  of  
Evolu3onary  or  Darwinian   Classifica3on     • Classifica3on  should  be  based  on  genealogy   (commo
Monophyle3c   • Each  natural  taxon  consist  of  the  descendants   of  the  nearest  common  ances
Homology   • Feature  in  two  or  more  taxa  is  homologous   when  it  is  derived  phylogene3cc

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