Why is population information crucial for taxonomy? A case study involving a hybrid swarm and related varieties.

ABSTRACT: Hybridization has become a focal topic in evolutionary biology, and many taxonomists are aware that the process occurs more frequently than previously assumed. Nonetheless many species and varieties are still described without explicitly considering the possibility of hybridization, especially in countries that have relatively short scientific histories, but which often possess the highest species diversities. Furthermore, new taxa are often described based only on herbarium specimens, not taking into account information from wild populations, significantly decreasing the potential to detect morphologies arising from hybridization at this crucial descriptive stage. We used morphological data from a hybrid swarm involving two Rhododendron species to showcase possible character combinations

SUBMITTER: Marczewski T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5142052 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature