Evolutionary Systematics

Photo: The superspecies of whistlers or thickheads (Pachycephala) native to Southeast Asia and Oceania (see M. Glaubrecht 2004 - Naturwiss. Rundschau [more]).

Evolutionary Systematics includes research on the theory and practice of zoological systematics as well as research on phylogenetics and evolution which is illustrated and exemplarily discussed here using selected groups of molluscs, especially limnic gastropods belonging to the Cerithioidea (Caenogastropoda or Sorbeoconcha).

Following an integrative approach, we aim at using new molecular genetic methods for phylogenetic analyses and the assessment of questions in evolutionary biology, especially sequencing of molecular markers (e.g. from the mitochondrial genome) along with methods (from morphology to biogeography) that may be regarded as “classical” by know.  [ more ]

• Evolutionssystematik limnischer Gastropoden (Habilitation treatise Matthias Glaubrecht 2010)
  [PDF introduction] [PDF full version]

Recently, the new concept of evolutionary systematics was explicitly applied also to other zoological taxa, e.g. freshwater crustaceans from Australia.

• Evolutionary systematics of the Australian Eocyzicus fauna (Crustacea: Branchiopoda: Spinicaudata) reveals hidden diversity and phylogeographic structure (Schwentner, M., Timms, B.V., Richter, S. 2014. Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research 52: 25-32.) [ PDF ]
• Evolutionary systematics of the Australian Cyzicidae (Crustacea, Branchiopoda, Spinicaudata) with the description of a new genus (Schwentner, M., Just, F. & Richter, S. 2015. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 173: 271–295.) [ PDF ]

Excerpt  (p. 272: "In the present study, we focus on the Australian representatives of the … Cyzicidae. ... The goal is to assess the diversity of the Australia Cyzicidae, their phylogenetic systematics, and their phylogeographical history within an Evolutionary Systematics framework (Glaubrecht, 2007, 2010). Therein, taxonomic diversity, disparity, and genetic variability, as well as the underlying evolutionary causes of speciation, are studied on the basis of phylogenetic systematics".