Phylogenetic Systematics of the Drynarioideae (Polypodiaceae)

About this book

Stressing the position and aims of systematics as an evolutionary biological discipline, this book deals with the taxonomy and phylogenetic systematics of the drynarioid Polypodiaceae, a tropical group of epiphytic ferns. The primary aim is the reconstruction of phylogenies by means of a new integrated cladistic method. The first results are detailed hypotheses of the evolutionary relations of the species recognized and of the evolutionary developments in the characters studied. The historical biogeography is then analysed and the resulting areagram is used to postulate an evolutionary scenario for this fern group.

Contents

General Part. 1. Introduction, Summary, and Acknowledgements. 2. Material and Techniques. 3. Taxonomic Study of the Drynarioideae. 4. Comparative Evolutionary Biology: A Research Program. 5. Analyses of Intrinsic Characters of the Drynarioideae. 6. Methodology of Cladistic Analysis (Co-Author: M. Zandee). 7. Cladistic Analysis of the Drynarioideae (Co-Author: M. Zandee). 8. Delimitation of Species and Genera of the Drynarioideae; The Systematic Position of the Subfamily. 9. Analysis of Extrinsic Characters of the Drynarioideae. 10. A Scenario of the Phylogeny of the Drynarioideae. 11. Conclusions. 12. References. Plates. Taxonomic Part. 13. Presentation of Data. 14. Keys to the Genera and Species. 15. Aglaomorpha. 16. Drynaria. Appendices: Characters Studied and States Recognized. Datamatrix. Partially Monothetic Sets of the Drynarioideae. Partially Monothetic Sets of Aglaomorpha. Partially Monothetic Sets of Drynaria. Distribution Maps. Histograms of Altitudinal Ranges. 17. Index of Collections. 18. Index to Taxonomic Names.

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