A phylogeny of the Platyhelminthes: towards a total-evidence solution |
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Authors: | Littlewood D T J Bray R A Clough K A |
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Institution: | (1) 1 Department of Zoology, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Rd, London, SW7 5BD, U.K.;(2) 2 Division of Life Sciences, King's College, University of London, London, W8 7AH, U.K. |
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Abstract: | We advocate a total-evidence approach for the reconstruction of working phylogenies for the Turbellaria and the phylum Platyhelminthes.
Few morphology-based character matrices are available in the systematic literature concerning flatworms, and molecular-based
phylogenies are rapidly providing the only means by which we can estimate phylogenies cladistically. Character matrices based
on gross morphology and ultrastructure are required and should be internally consistent, i.e. character coding should follow
a set of a priori guidelines and character duplication and contradiction is avoided. In order to test our molecular phylogenies
we need complementary data sets from morphology. To understand morphological homology we need phylogenetic evidence from independent
(e.g. molecular) data. Fully complementary morphological and molecular data sets enable us to validate phylogenetic hypotheses
and the combination of these sets in phylogenetic reconstruction utilises all statements of homology. Working phylogenies
which include all phylogenetic information not only shed light on individual character evolution, but form a strong basis
for comparative studies investigating the origin and evolutionary radiation of the taxonomic group under scrutiny.
This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date. |
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Keywords: | Platyhelminthes total-evidence phylogeny ultrastructure rRNA cladistics |
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