Phylogenetic comparative methods improve the selection of characters for generic delimitations in a hyperdiverse Neotropical orchid clade.

ABSTRACT: Taxonomic delimitations are challenging because of the convergent and variable nature of phenotypic traits. This is evident in species-rich lineages, where the ancestral and derived states and their gains and losses are difficult to assess. Phylogenetic comparative methods help to evaluate the convergent evolution of a given morphological character, thus enabling the discovery of traits useful for classifications. In this study, we investigate the evolution of selected traits to test for their suitability for generic delimitations in the clade Lepanthes, one of the Neotropical species-richest groups. We evaluated every generic name proposed in the Lepanthes clade producing densely sampled phylogenies with Maximum Parsimony, Maximum Likelihood, and Bayesian approaches. Using Ancestral State

SUBMITTER: Bogarin D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6805863 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature