Phylogenetic Research: A Short Introduction

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to provide an easy to understand explanation of phylogenetic (cladistic) research, which might compel every reader to give this type of research a try. For this reason the text does no t only explain the methodology, it also advices, shows examples and offers a brief manual to one of the computer programs. Topics which are briefly treated are the use of taxa, characters, outgroups, parsimony, optimisation algorithms, computer programs, interpretation of results, phylogenetic classification, and future developments.