Milestones in Systematics

Description

Perhaps the most significant and rapid advances in systematic methods have been made during the last forty years. However, little has been written on the development and contribution of the various disciplines that impinge upon the science of systematics. The purpose of this volume is twofold. First it reviews the major issues in systematic theory and practice that have driven the working methods of systematists during the 20th century. Secondly, it takes a forward look at the issues most likely to preoccupy systematists in the immediate future.Covering historical analyses of the evolution of systematics in the last one hundred years, Milestones in Systematics covers areas such as the development of the phenetic and cladistic methods of phylogenetic analysis and the associated algorithms; the revived influence of palaeontological data; the impact of new molecular data and the relationships between systematics, development and evolution. This latter subject is of particular interest as it echoes discussions prevalent at the beginning of the 20th century, but with the added perspective of modern analytical techniques and a molecular foundation.Biology postgraduates, postdoctoral students and researchers in evolutionary biology and systematics will find this a stimulating, thought-provoking read, and a platform for further debate and discussion.