species concepts, etc

[Dave Chesmore]

I have just returned from a European Science Foundation meeting on
Systematic Biology which is aiming to develop a future programme in
systematic biology.

I presented a paper on computer-aided taxonomy which includes
within its remit automated species identification, key systems for
identification and all aspects of computer applications in systematics.
 I am attempting to define the concept mroe closely.

At the meeting, I was not entirely surprised that different phylogenetic
approaches (morphology, rbcl, r-DNA) and analysis methods
(parsimony, etc) produced different phyogenies.  What DID surprise
me is that there appears to be no concensus as to which is best.
Each person appeared to have his/her own favorite method!

My question is - does anyone know of any research, papers, etc for
comparative studies of the various methods giving objective
comparisons?

====================================================
Dr David Chesmore, FRES
Control & Intelligent Systems Engineering Group
Dept. of Electronic Engineering
University of Hull, Hull, HU6 7RX
Tel: +482 465062;  Fax: +482 466664
Email:  E.D.Chesmore at E-Eng.Hull.AC.UK
Web page: http://www.hull.ac.uk/php/eepmds/home.htm