Hybrids and genera

[Jeff Oliver]

Let's not forget that 'genera' are concepts, and don't really have any objective
biological definition (no 'Biological Genus Concept' or 'Phylogenetic Genus
Concept').  'Species', despite all the different definitions given in the
literature, can be thought of as lineages.  If taxonomy is to reflect phylogeny,
then taxa with contemporary gene flow should definitely be considered congeneric,
and potentially conspecific (depending on levels of gene flow).  Of course,
determining contemporary gene flow is another ball of wax...

Jeff Oliver
University of Arizona
jcoliver at email.arizona.edu


 
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