Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Synamorphy, monophyly, and cladistic analysis: A reply to Wilkinson

  • Published:
Acta Biotheoretica Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Wilkinson (1991) suggests that the problems of polarity decisions and homoplasy in a cladistic analysis may be solved if cladists simply accept plesiomorphy as a reliable indicator of monophyly. Here we argue that: (1) Wilkinson's argument is based on misapprehension of synapomorphy and the problem of homoplasy; (2) His proposed methodology fails to consider the full ramifications of rooting, polarity, and parsimony; and (3) His method does not solve the problems he raises. We demonstrate the limitations of this methodology by using Wilkinson's practical example. We find no justification for the assertion that plesiomorphy may reliably delimit monophyly and recommend against Wilkinson's suggested methodological revisions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • de Pinna, M.C.C. (1991). Concepts and tests of homology in the cladistic paradigm. Cladistics 7: 367–394.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duellman, W.E. and L. Treub (1986). Biology of Amphibians. New York, McGraw-Hill Book Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • Farris, J.S. (1970). Methods for computing Wagner trees. Syst. Zool. 19: 83–92.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Farris, J.S. (1979). The information content of the phylogenetic system. Syst. Zool. 28: 483–519.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Farris, J.S. (1980). The efficient diagnoses of the phylogenetic system. Syst. Zool. 29: 386–401.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Farris, J.S. (1982). Simplicity and informativeness in systematics and phylogeny. Syst. Zool. 31: 413–444.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Farris, J.S. (1983). The logical basis of phylogenetic analysis. In: N. Platnick and V. Funk, eds., Advances in Cladistics II, pp. 7–36, New York, Columbia University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hennig, W. (1966). Phylogenetic Systematics. Urbana, University of Illinois Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lescure, J., S. Renous and J.-P. Gasc (1986). Proposition d'une nouvelle classification des ampibiens gymnophiones. Soc. Zool. France Mem. 43: 145–177.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nussbaum, R.A. (1979). The taxonomic status of the caecilian genusUraeotyphlus Peters. Occ. Pap. Mus. Zool. Univ. Michigan 687: 1–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Patterson, C. (1982). Morphological characters and homology. In: D.L. Hawksworth, ed., Prospects in Systematics. Oxford, Clarendon Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Patterson, C. (1988). Homology in classical and molecular biology. Mol. Biol. Evol. 5: 603–625.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sober, E. (1988). Reconstructing the Past. London, MIT Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilkinson, M. (1991). The use of primitive character state distributions in the assessment of holophyly. Acta Biotheoretica 39: 37–46.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Comstock Hall, 14863, Ithaca, NY, USA

    Michael F. Whiting

  2. L.H. Bailey Hortorium, Cornell University, 462 Mann Library, 14853, Ithaca, NY, USA

    Lawrence M. Kelly

Authors
  1. Michael F. Whiting
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Lawrence M. Kelly
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Whiting, M.F., Kelly, L.M. Synamorphy, monophyly, and cladistic analysis: A reply to Wilkinson. Acta Biotheor 43, 249–257 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00707273

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00707273

Keywords

Search

Navigation