Cladistics

Cladistics
Author: Peter L. Forey
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Total Pages: 208
Release: 1992
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN:

Cladistics is the method of choice for systematic classification and comparative studies in all fields of biology. In cladistics, reconstructed genealogies are based on common ancestry rather than on simple anatomical similarity and therefore effectively reveal true phylogenetic relationships. This book is an introduction to cladistics and is based on the popular training course originally offered by the Systematics Association. The book first introduces the principle of parsimony and methods for character coding and the determination of character polarity. Methods of cladistic tree-building follow and tree statistics are detailed. Alternatives to parsimony, molecular applications of cladistics, and the relevance of fossils are then discussed. The concluding chapters review two important topics in cladistics: cladistic biogeography and the implementation of cladistic results in systematics. This book provides an up-to-date account of the techniques of modern cladistics, written in a clear, readable style. It will be an invaluable text for all students interested in systematics and comparative studies.

Assembling the Pieces of a Systematic Review

Assembling the Pieces of a Systematic Review
Author: Margaret J. Foster
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
Total Pages: 243
Release: 2017-03-03
Genre: Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN: 1442277025

Here is a complete guide for librarians seeking to launch or refine their systematic review services. Conducting searches for systematic reviews goes beyond expert searching and requires an understanding of the entire process of the systematic review. Just as expert searching is not fully mastered by the end of a library degree, mastering the systematic review process takes a great deal of time and practice. Attending workshops and webinars can introduce the topic, but application of the knowledge through practice is required. Running a systematic review service is complicated and requires constant updating and evaluation with new standards, more efficient methods, and improved reporting guidelines. After a brief introduction to systematic reviews, the book guides librarians in defining and marketing their services, covering topics such as when it is appropriate to ask for co-authorship and how to reach out to stakeholders. Next, it addresses developing documentation and conducting the reference interview. Standards specific to systematic reviews, including PRISMA, Institute of Medicine, and Cochrane Collaboration, are discussed. Search strategy techniques, including choosing databases, harvesting search terms, selecting filters, and searching for grey literature are detailed. Data management and critical appraisal are covered in detail. Finally, the best practices for reporting the findings of systematic reviews are highlighted. Experts with experience in both systematic reviews and librarianship, including the editors of the book, contributed to the chapters. Each step (or piece) of the review process (Planning the review, Identifying the studies, Evaluating studies, Collecting and combining data, Explaining the results, and Summarizing the review into a report), are covered with emphasis on information roles. The book is for any librarian interested in conducting reviews or assisting others with reviews. It has several applications: for training librarians new to systematic reviews, for those developing a new systematic review service, for those wanting to establish protocols for a current service, and as a reference for those conducting reviews or running a service. Participating in systematic reviews is a new frontier of librarianship, in which librarians can truly become research partners with our patrons, instead of merely providing access to resources and services.

Developmental Genetics and Plant Evolution

Developmental Genetics and Plant Evolution
Author: Quentin C.B. Cronk
Publisher: CRC Press
Total Pages: 568
Release: 2004-01-29
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9781420024982

A benchmark text, Developmental Genetics and Plant Evolution integrates the recent revolution in the molecular-developmental genetics of plants with mainstream evolutionary thought. It reflects the increasing cooperation between strongly genomics-influenced researchers, with their strong grasp of technology, and evolutionary morphogenetists and sys

Biological Systematics

Biological Systematics
Author: Randall T. Schuh
Publisher: Cornell University Press
Total Pages: 326
Release: 2011-04-15
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0801462436

Biological Systematics: Principles and Applications draws equally from examples in botany and zoology to provide a modern account of cladistic principles and techniques. It is a core systematics textbook with a focus on parsimony-based approaches for students and biologists interested in systematics and comparative biology. Randall T. Schuh and Andrew V. Z. Brower cover: -the history and philosophy of systematics and nomenclature; -the mechanics and methods of analysis and evaluation of results; -the practical applications of results and wider relevance within biological classification, biogeography, adaptation and coevolution, biodiversity, and conservation; and -software applications. This new and thoroughly revised edition reflects the exponential growth in the use of DNA sequence data in systematics. New data techniques and a notable increase in the number of examples from molecular systematics will be of interest to students increasingly involved in molecular and genetic work.

The New Taxonomy

The New Taxonomy
Author: Quentin D. Wheeler
Publisher: CRC Press
Total Pages: 258
Release: 2008-04-09
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 1420008560

Finalist for 2009 The Council on Botanical & Horticultural Libraries Literature Award!A Fresh Look at Taxonomy The most fundamental of all biological sciences, taxonomy underpins any long term strategies for reconstructing the great tree of life or salvaging as much biodiversity as possible. Yet we are still unable to say with any certainty how

Climate Change, Ecology and Systematics

Climate Change, Ecology and Systematics
Author: Trevor R. Hodkinson
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 543
Release: 2011-04-28
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1139500473

Climate change has shaped life in the past and will continue to do so in the future. Understanding the interactions between climate and biodiversity is a complex challenge to science. With contributions from 60 key researchers, this book examines the ongoing impact of climate change on the ecology and diversity of life on earth. It discusses the latest research within the fields of ecology and systematics, highlighting the increasing integration of their approaches and methods. Topics covered include the influence of climate change on evolutionary and ecological processes such as adaptation, migration, speciation and extinction, and the role of these processes in determining the diversity and biogeographic distribution of species and their populations. This book ultimately illustrates the necessity for global conservation actions to mitigate the effects of climate change in a world that is already undergoing a biodiversity crisis of unprecedented scale.

The Development of Biological Systematics

The Development of Biological Systematics
Author: Peter F. Stevens
Publisher: Columbia University Press
Total Pages: 660
Release: 1994-12-01
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9780231515085

A reevaluation of the history of biological systematics that discusses the formative years of the so-called natural system of classification in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Shows how classifications came to be treated as conventions; systematic practice was not linked to clearly articulated theory; there was general confusion over the "shape" of nature; botany, elements of natural history, and systematics were conflated; and systematics took a position near the bottom of the hierarchy of sciences.

Reconstructing the Tree of Life

Reconstructing the Tree of Life
Author: Trevor R. Hodkinson
Publisher: CRC Press
Total Pages: 374
Release: 2006-12-26
Genre: Mathematics
ISBN: 1420009532

To document the world's diversity of species and reconstruct the tree of life we need to undertake some simple but mountainous tasks. Most importantly, we need to tackle species rich groups. We need to collect, name, and classify them, and then position them on the tree of life. We need to do this systematically across all groups of organisms and b

Finding What Works in Health Care

Finding What Works in Health Care
Author: Institute of Medicine
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 267
Release: 2011-07-20
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 0309164257

Healthcare decision makers in search of reliable information that compares health interventions increasingly turn to systematic reviews for the best summary of the evidence. Systematic reviews identify, select, assess, and synthesize the findings of similar but separate studies, and can help clarify what is known and not known about the potential benefits and harms of drugs, devices, and other healthcare services. Systematic reviews can be helpful for clinicians who want to integrate research findings into their daily practices, for patients to make well-informed choices about their own care, for professional medical societies and other organizations that develop clinical practice guidelines. Too often systematic reviews are of uncertain or poor quality. There are no universally accepted standards for developing systematic reviews leading to variability in how conflicts of interest and biases are handled, how evidence is appraised, and the overall scientific rigor of the process. In Finding What Works in Health Care the Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommends 21 standards for developing high-quality systematic reviews of comparative effectiveness research. The standards address the entire systematic review process from the initial steps of formulating the topic and building the review team to producing a detailed final report that synthesizes what the evidence shows and where knowledge gaps remain. Finding What Works in Health Care also proposes a framework for improving the quality of the science underpinning systematic reviews. This book will serve as a vital resource for both sponsors and producers of systematic reviews of comparative effectiveness research.