The Perils of Plesiomorphy: Widespread Taxa, Dispersal, and Phenetic Biogeography

Abstract

Problems in vicariance biogeogrpahy are presented in a simplified way. The fact that differences between traditional and vicariance biogeography are analogous to the differences between phenetic and cladistic taxonomy is shown. Three vicariance biogeography areas of study are investigated. First, if endemism is geographically non-random and if so, the areas of endemism. Second, given a list of certain areas of endemism, whether the interrelationships of the endemic taxa are geographically non-random and if so, the pattern formed by their interrelationship. Lastly, given a pattern of interrelationship (as represented by cladograms) whether pattern correlates with geological history.