Which statement correctly explains the relationship between taxonomic categories and phylogenetic classification?
Taxonomic categories are arbitrary and have no relationship to phylogeny.
Taxonomic categories always perfectly match the branching patterns of phylogenetic trees.
Taxonomic categories ideally reflect evolutionary relationships revealed through phylogenetic analysis.
Phylogenetic analysis is used to create taxonomic categories, but they don't necessarily reflect evolutionary relationships.
Related Questions
Consider the hierarchical categories: Family, Order, Genus, and Species. Which represents the most inclusive category followed by the most exclusive in the correct order?
Genus, Family
Family, Species
Order, Species
Species, Order
While classifying organisms, which of the following presents the biggest challenge to a strictly phylogenetic system of classification?
Convergent evolution
Horizontal gene transfer
Fossil record incompleteness
Morphological similarities in unrelated species
A taxonomist is studying a newly discovered organism. They find it to be eukaryotic, multicellular, heterotrophic, with chitinous cell walls and exhibiting absorptive nutrition. Based solely on these characteristics, to which of the following taxonomic groups could the organism most precisely be assigned?
Kingdom Fungi
Phylum Basidiomycota
Domain Eukarya
Class Ascomycetes
Which statement correctly explains the relationship between taxonomic categories and phylogenetic classification?
Taxonomic categories are arbitrary and have no relationship to phylogeny.
Taxonomic categories always perfectly match the branching patterns of phylogenetic trees.
Taxonomic categories ideally reflect evolutionary relationships revealed through phylogenetic analysis.
Phylogenetic analysis is used to create taxonomic categories, but they don't necessarily reflect evolutionary relationships.
Two different genera are classified in the same taxonomic category family. Which statement is correct about their classification?
The same class, but different species
A different class and different order
The same phylum, but different class
A different kingdom and different phylum
Which of the following is not a valid reason why the morphological species concept can be problematic?
It can be difficult to distinguish between intraspecific variation and interspecific differences.
Cryptic species may be morphologically identical but reproductively isolated.
It requires detailed genetic analysis.
Morphological traits can be influenced by environmental factors leading to phenotypic plasticity.
Polyphyletic groups are problematic in taxonomy because they:
Include all descendants of a common ancestor.
Include the most recent common ancestor and all its descendants.
Do not include the most recent common ancestor of all members.
Represent a single evolutionary lineage.
