Taxonomy and Phylogenetics

Question 1

Allopatric

Answer 1

An event/process occurring in separate non-overlapping geographical areas.

Question 2

Anagenesis

Answer 2

Non-branching lines of descent, where there are no off-shoot populations.

Question 3

Analogous

Answer 3

Structures with the same function, but from different genetic origins.

Question 4

Arboreal

Answer 4

Tree-dwelling organism.

Question 5

Biological Species Concept

Answer 5

Defining a species based on the ability to interbreed and produce fertile offspring.

Question 6

Bootstrap Value

Answer 6

A measure (% or fraction of 1.0) of the certainty that a divergence in a phylogenetic tree is correct. Based on repeated resampling of phylogenetic trees.

Question 7

Character Polarity

Answer 7

Where a characteristic exists in two states, sometimes with intermediates in between.

Question 8

Clade

Answer 8

A cluster of individuals or branches within a phylogenetic tree.

Question 9

Cladistics

Answer 9

Grouping based on an inferred genealogy.

Question 10

Cladogenetic History

Answer 10

The previous branches on a phylogenetic tree or dendrogram.

Question 11

Classification

Answer 11

(Verb) Making sense of relatedness among organisms. (Noun) A descriptive group of organisms.

Question 12

Convergent Evolution

Answer 12

Evolution of similar structures in separate, unrelated lineages.

Question 13

Delimitation

Answer 13

Setting the limits to define a grouping of organisms based on specific characteristics.

Question 14

Dendrogram

Answer 14

A branching phylogenetic tree showing related clusters, usually without indicating similarity degrees.

Question 15

Derived Characters

Answer 15

Characteristics that arose from a common origin but changed in later lineages (e.g., forelimbs in reptiles and birds).

Question 16

Extrinsic Mechanisms

Answer 16

Environmental or geographic factors.

Question 17

Genera

Answer 17

Plural of ‘genus’.

Question 18

Genetic Species Concept

Answer 18

Defining a species based on DNA/RNA/protein sequence similarity.

Question 19

Heterosis

Answer 19

Hybrid vigor — improved traits in a population from genetic mixing.

Question 20

Homologous

Answer 20

From the same embryonic origin.

Question 21

Homoplasy

Answer 21

Similarity due to convergent evolution or phenotypic convergence.

Question 22

Intraspecific Variation

Answer 22

Variation of morphologies within a species (e.g., skin color in humans, dog breeds).

Question 23

Intrinsic Mechanisms

Answer 23

Biological factors within a species.

Question 24

Mimicry

Answer 24

An organism takes on the form or traits of another for defense or predation.

Question 25

Monophyletic

Answer 25

A group containing all known descendants of a common ancestral species.

Question 26

Morphological Species Concept

Answer 26

Species determined based on physical structures or behaviors.

Question 27

Morphology

Answer 27

The physical shape, structure, or appearance of an organism.

Question 28

Morphospecies

Answer 28

A species defined by the Morphological Species Concept.

Question 29

Natural Selection

Answer 29

Prioritization of traits that provide survival advantages due to random mutations.

Question 30

Ontogeny

Answer 30

The physical appearance of a group of organisms.

Question 31

Ordering

Answer 31

Grouping individuals and determining hierarchies based on their characteristics.

Question 32

Orthodox Approach

Answer 32

Uses both morphology and genetic data, with similarity represented by values or tree branch lengths.

Question 33

Outgroup

Answer 33

A similar group from a different lineage used as a comparison in phylogenetic analysis.

Question 34

Palaeospecies

Answer 34

Extinct species identified from the fossil record.

Question 35

Paraphyletic

Answer 35

A group that contains some, but not all, descendants of a common ancestor.

Question 36

Phenetics

Answer 36

Grouping based on overall phenotypic similarities, giving equal weight to all traits.

Question 37

Phenogram

Answer 37

A tree created through phenetic analysis.

Question 38

Phenotypic Convergence

Answer 38

The process where unrelated organisms evolve similar traits due to similar environments or pressures.

Question 39

Phylogenetic Species Concept

Answer 39

Defining a species based on taxonomy and smallest taxonomic grouping.

Question 40

Phylogenetic Tree

Answer 40

Diagram showing the degree of relatedness between organisms or groups.

Question 41

Phylogenetics

Answer 41

The study of evolutionary history and relationships among species.

Question 42

Phylogeny

Answer 42

The evolutionary 'tree of life' formed by observing similarities and differences between organisms.

Question 43

Phylogram

Answer 43

A phylogenetic tree showing degree of relatedness through branch length.

Question 44

Polyphyletic

Answer 44

A group containing descendants from different lineages.

Question 45

Recognition Species Concept

Answer 45

Species defined by individuals recognizing viable mates.

Question 46

Reproductive Isolation

Answer 46

When two groups of the same species can’t interbreed due to barriers (e.g., behavior, geography).

Question 47

Sexual Dimorphism

Answer 47

When males and females of a species look substantially different (e.g., color, size, shape).

Question 48

Shared Derived Character

Answer 48

A trait that originated in a common ancestor and has diverged in descendants.

Question 49

Supraspecific Group

Answer 49

A grouping above species level (e.g., Genus, Order, Phylum).

Question 50

Sympatric

Answer 50

An event/process occurring in overlapping geographical areas.

Question 51

Systematics

Answer 51

The process of classifying organisms based on evolutionary history (phylogeny).

Question 52

Taxonomy

Answer 52

The theory and practice of classification.

Question 53

Topology

Answer 53

The pattern or arrangement of branches in a phylogenetic tree.

Question 54

Typological Species Concept

Answer 54

Same as the Morphological Species Concept.

Question 55

Vestigial

Answer 55

No longer fully formed or functional (e.g., emu wings).

Question 56

Weighting

Answer 56

The importance given to specific characteristics in a similarity analysis.