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Abstract Detail



Paleobotanical Section

Gonzalez-Ramírez, Ixchel [1], Cevallos-Ferriz, Sergio R. S. [2], Ochoterena, Helga [3], Gernandt, David S. [4].

Phylogenetic analysis approach in the study of Cretaceous conifers from Chiapas, Mexico.

Recent studies have shown the feasibility and usefulness of phylogenetic analyses that incorporate multiple sources of evidence from extant and extinct taxa. From the point of view of paleontology, this approach is important as it may provide information for taxa reconstruction and may help to establish hypothesis of fossil taxa phylogenetic relations. All this information is important in the study of fossils because it leads to an understanding of fossil taxa in an evolutionary context. Many fossils of conifers have been described all around the world showing that this group reached its major species diversity during the Mesozoic era. Therefore it is particularly interesting to understand the relations of extant and extinct taxa in this group. In the state of Chiapas, Mexico, a Cretaceous quarry named “El Chango” has been recently discovered and a great diversity of conifer fossils, with morphological affinities to Cupressaceae and Podocarpaceae, has been found here. The main goal of this work was to find phylogenetic affinities of coniferous fossil taxa found at ´El Chango´, Chiapas as well as to explore the potential of phylogenetic analysis as a tool for reconstructing these fossil taxa. A phylogenetic analysis was performed using a combined morphological and molecular (from Genbank) data matrix including extant and extinct taxa with special emphasis on Cupressaceae and Podocarpaceae. The phylogenetic analysis recovers known relations among extant taxa and suggests few positions for fossil taxa that restrict the possible related groups to one or a few genera. From this results, it is possible to hypothesize characters states that are not observable in the fossil record and thus make more accurate reconstructions of fossil taxa. The use of phylogenetic analyses enable greater understanding of ancient plants based on comparative biology.


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1 - Facultad De Ciencias, UNAM, Manuel Álvarez 111, Mod 1, Dpto A-103, Col. Juan Escutia, Iztapalapa, Mexico, N/A, 09100, Mexico
2 - UNAM, Departamento de Paleobotánica, Coyoacán S/N, Instituto de Geología, Mexico, 04510, México
3 - Instituto De Biologia, UNAM, Depto Botánica-Apdo.Postal 70-367, Coyoacan, Mexico DF, N/A, 04510, Mexico
4 - UNAM, Departamento de Botánica, Coyoacán S/N, Instituto de Biología, Mexico, 04510 , Mexico

Keywords:
combined phylogenetic analysis
fossil conifer
Cretaceous.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Sections
Session: 11
Location: Salon 5/The Shaw Conference Centre
Date: Monday, July 27th, 2015
Time: 10:45 AM
Number: 11003
Abstract ID:681
Candidate for Awards:Isabel Cookson Award,Maynard F. Moseley Award


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