Re: stratocladistics

[chris brochu <cbrochu@fmppr.fmnh.org>]

Dinogeorge@aol.com wrote:
> 
> In a message dated 8/31/99 8:15:32 AM EST, cbrochu@fmppr.fmnh.org writes:
> 
> << One thing the comment does not address is the unsuitability of
>  stratocladistics when biogeographic sampling is nonuniform.  If anyone
>  can tell me of a terrestrial vertebrate lineage with uniform, unbiased
>  biogeographic sampling, I will happily delve into stratocladistics.   >>
> 
> (1) How could you tell whether the sampling was uniform and unbiased--even in
> the unlikely case that it were?

One method would be to map out the biogeographic distributions of
fossils over time.  

> 
> (2) Don't papers artifically testing stratocladistics manufacture fragmented
> fossil records that assume nonuniform sampling?


No.



> 
> (3) Isn't any kind of a sample, uniform or not, better than no sample at all?
> Even a poor sample can falsify some hypotheses.

Actually, a poor sample can positively mislead - many simulations have
shown this.


chris



> 
> You should delve...


....not.

-- 
----------------------
Christopher A. Brochu
Department of Geology
Field Museum of Natural History
Roosevelt Road at Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60605

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