Construct a phylogenetic tree

This web page will construct a phylogenetic tree of the creatures you select below. It will use the DNA sequences
of several genes from each of these organisms to construct the tree.

  1. Select the desired creatures from the lists below.
    • To select more than one in the same list, hold down the apple key (on macs); the control key (on pcs); on the Suns, you just click.
    • If you want to clear your selections and start over, click the "Clear all selections" button.
  2. You must also choose one and only one outgroup organism so that your tree will have a root. This is especially important for the parsimony analysis. The outgroup organism should not be closely related to the other organisms.
  3. When you have made the selections you want, click the "calculate tree" button.
  4. Your request will then be processed this may take a while so please be patient.

New Zealand Cyatheaceae Phylogenies?

The New Zealand Cyatheaceae (Tree Fern) is a relatively unstudied group of plants. Classification of Cyatheaceae Species in New Zealand is a contentious issue. Currently, classification is based on a number of varying morphological characters. The classification system used to classify species of Cyatheaceae seems to be based almost completely on the preference of the Author, rather than an accepted classification system.

In this workspace, you have been provided a number of Nucleic Acid sequences from Cyatheaceae species, in addition to sequences of related species. These sequences are from various loci, and can possibly be used to create a new Classification system for New Zealand Cyatheaceae.

Does the molecular data support a current classification system?

Main Tree Organisms
Select several organisms from these lists to make the tree.
Australia New Zealand Other
Outgroup Organisms
Select one organism from these lists that you did not select above to act as an outgroup for the tree.
This organism should not be closely related to the organisms that you selected above.
Australia New Zealand Other

This Phylogenetic Problem was created by:
Barry Hennig
Allan Wilson Center
Massey University
Palmerston North
New Zealand

with thanks to:
The Royal Society of New Zealand and
BioQUEST, Beloit College
Beloit, Wisonsin

This page written and maintained by Brian White and Barry Hennig.