Cladoendesis (“branch-coupling”, from Greek κλαδος + εν-δεσις) is a method of phylogeny reconstruction by means of creating biological classification, whose layout and nomenclature are specially elaborated for this purpose. In such classification, a holophyletic taxon is established for each known phylogenetic branch, a plesiomorphon is established for each unresolved area of phylogenetic tree, and all taxa (both holophyletic ones and plesiomorphons) are supplied with own names; characteristics of each taxon is supplied by references to characteristics of higher taxa, so that characters of all taxa are formulated as hierarchically interdependent (coupled). In order to provide distinctness of taxa names, the Dual Nomenclature System (DualNom]) is used, which consists of two rank-free nomenclatures called circumscriptional and typified ones, which are alternative one another. In a rank-free nomenclature, a name does not depend upon artificial, formal rank of the taxon and can be given to a taxon which has no formal rank; this allows to supply with names all revealed phylogenetic branches, while number of their hierarchical levels can highly increase number of possible formal ranks. Cladoendesis is opposed to matrix methods of phylogeny analysis.
|
