Protecting biological diversity is defined based on analyzing the cladistic information. In this lab the null hypothesis was examined through interpreting constructed cladograms. A cladogram of five mammalian species include domestic dog (canis familiaris), the Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana), the domestic horse (Equus caballus), the domestic cat (Felis cattus) and the white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianusis is generated based on the morphological feathers of these mammalian species’ skulls and other anatomical and physiological characteristics. The cladogram of five mammalian species rejects the null hypothesis since these species display the distribution of derived character states. Another cladogram of nine bears of American black bear was constructed using mitochondrial DNA and was interpreted based on the hypothesis of the evolution of these subspecies during the past glaciations. Also, the null hypothesis of mtDNA cladogram found to be rejected. That strongly support the earlier hypothesis that large islands have served as a glacial refugium for these black bears. Protecting more ancient networks areas, which estimated by the branch lengths, on the mtDNA cladogram is a more efficient method since these networks represent overall phylogenetic diversity and maximizing phylogenetic diversity.
Introduction:
Conservationists today are doomed to struggle against an exploitation of plant and animal species worldwide. The American black bear is an example of the most threatened subspecies in Canada and United states. Legal protection and conservation plan for these endangered subspecies should be established. However, organic evolution has been taking place for 3.5 billion years. It is impossible to study every living organism from an individual level. Biologists group and classify living and extinct organisms for many reasons such as to establish a common language or reference point or to develop a system for counting, storing,