Limits of homologization for phylogenetic analysis

[Don.Colless at CSIRO.AU]

Personally, I would use the characters concerned ONLY for separate, individual studies of the relevant subfamilies. They contribute nothing but noise to a full analysis.

Don Colless,
Div of Entomology, CSIRO,
GPO Box 1700,
Canberra. 2601.
Email: don.colless at csiro.au
Tuz li munz est miens envirun
 

-----Original Message-----
From:   Taxacom Discussion List on behalf of H Douglas
Sent:   Mon 8/1/2005 9:56 PM
To:     TAXACOM at LISTSERV.NHM.KU.EDU
Cc:	
Subject:             Limits of homologization for phylogenetic analysis
I am coding morphology, mainly in two subfamilies of one beetle family.
The bursae copulatrix of both groups have sclerites, which appear
informative. I am confident about homologizing sclerites within each
subfamily, but not between them. So, I expect these characters to be
informative only for within subfamily relationships.

I would like to write an independent nomenclature and set of characters
for the sclerites of each subfamily. I would code the second subfamily
as "?" for the unhomologized characters of the first group.

Are there perils here of which I should be aware? Could you suggest a
reference on this subject?

Thanks,

Hume Douglas

Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa ON, CANADA