Foundations of phylogenetic systematics

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Phylogeny inference and organism classification are crucial in biology, providing insights into the evolution of structures, functions, genomes, and medically important genes. A stable classification system aids ecologists in identifying organisms and accessing relevant information. This book introduces the theory of Phylogenetic Systematics, serving as a guide for biologists analyzing morphological or molecular data through classical and modern methods. The first section discusses the epistemological foundations of phylogenetic tree construction, emphasizing the often-overlooked estimation of data quality. It presents a theoretical framework for systematists to critically evaluate data sets and assess the plausibility of results, focusing on concepts like information content, probability of homology, and the principle of parsimony. The author compares Willi Hennig’s original method with modern numerical systematics and discusses an updated Hennigian approach. The distinctions between phenetic and phylogenetic cladistics are clarified, and popular computer tools for data evaluation are examined, including their assumptions and potential errors. The mathematical background of these tools is presented in an accessible manner. Johann-Wolfgang Wägele, previously head of the Department for Animal Systematics at the University of Bochum and now director of the Museum Alexander Koenig, specializes in Isopoda taxonomy, phylogeny, and