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References and Further Reading

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2025

Kevin Omland
Affiliation:
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
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Print publication year: 2025

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References

Primary Sources

Baum, D. A., and Smith, S. D. (2013). Tree Thinking: An Introduction to Phylogenetic Biology. Greenwood Village: Roberts. An excellent upper-level university text about phylogenies and tree thinking. Lots of detailed information about how to infer trees, how to study the evolution of characters, etc. Includes specifics about cladograms, chronograms, timetrees, phylograms, and other ways of depicting and interpreting phylogenetic information.Google Scholar
Omland, K. E. (2013). Interpretation of phylogenetic trees. In Losos, J. B. (ed.), Princeton Guide to Evolution (pp. 5159). Princeton: Princeton University Press. A short chapter on the basics of phylogenetic trees; written for university students who do not know about evolution and trees.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Omland, K. E., Cook, L. G., and Crisp, M. D. (2008). Tree thinking for all biology: the problem with reading phylogenies as ladders of progress. BioEssays 30: 854867. A review article intended for biologists who do not work on evolutionary trees.10.1002/bies.20794CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

Secondary Sources

Baum, D. A., and Offner, S. (2008). Phylogenetics and tree-thinking. American Biology Teacher 70: 222229. A great accessible article on the basics of trees and tree thinking.Google Scholar
Baum, D. A., and Smith, S. D. (2013). Tree Thinking: An Introduction to Phylogenetic Biology. Greenwood Village: Roberts.Google Scholar
Darwin, C. (1859). Origin of Species. London: John Murray. Darwin’s classic book outlining his ideas about evolution by natural selection and common descent. Complete name: On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, Or, The Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life.Google Scholar
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Adame, F. (2023). Dear scientists: stop calling America the ‘New World’. It’s new to you – but not to me or anyone else who grew up here. Nature. April 4. Recently many have pointed out the problematic colonial perspective of the terms “New World” and “Old World.” Unfortunately, I cannot find suitable alternatives. “American Primates” might imply that they live in the United States. And I know of no terminology that groups Africa and Asia other than “Old World.” It is worth thinking of alternatives, and within the scientific community we can use the scientific names: Platyrrhini for monkeys of the Americas, and Cercopithecidae for the monkeys of Africa and Asia.Google Scholar
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