A Numerical Approach to Phylogenetic Systematics
Farris, J. S. (Biol. Sd., State Univ., Stony Brook, New York, 11790), Kluge, A. G., and Eckardt, M. J. (Zool., Univ. Michigan, Ann Arbor 48104) 1970. A Numerical approach to phylogenetic systematics. Syst. Zool., 19:172–191.—Principles abstracted from Hennig (1966) are used as axioms to form a quantitative analog of phylogenetic systematics. A close connection is demonstrated between phylogenetics and most parsimonious trees. The compatibility of some existing clustering methods with the principles is discussed, and a new clustering technique, the Weighted Invariant Step Strategy (WISS) is described. Generalization of the axioms to the case where direction of evolution is not assumed is examined, and it is shown that the Wagner Method for estimating evolutionary trees is consistent with the generalized phylogenetic axioms.