Biosystematics is a branch of science that involves the study of the diversity of life and the relationships between living organisms. The main purpose of biosystematics is to organize and classify the species and upper taxa that are the basic components of biodiversity and to provide a framework for understanding the evolutionary history and relationships between different species.
Fundamental aspects of biosystematics include:
Classification: It is the process of grouping and classifying organisms according to their common characteristics. Taxonomy is the part of biosystematics that involves naming and classifying organisms.
Naming: Naming organisms according to established rules. The International Code of Nomenclature (ICN) for algae, fungi, and plants and the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) are examples of codes that govern the naming of organisms.
Describing: Determining the identity of a particular organism, usually using a combination of morphological, anatomical, molecular, and ecological features.
Phylogenetics: The study of evolutionary relationships between organisms. Phylogenetic analyzes use a variety of data, including molecular sequences, to construct evolutionary trees or phylogenies.
Systematic: A broader field that encompasses biosystematics and includes the study of evolutionary history, diversity, and relationships between organisms.
Biogeography: Examining the geographical distribution of organisms and the factors affecting them.
Character analysis: To investigate how different traits or characters develop over time in certain groups of organisms.
Biosystematists use a variety of tools and techniques, including molecular biology, anatomy, morphology, and ecology, to collect data and draw conclusions about the relationships and evolutionary histories of organisms. The ultimate goal is to create a systematic classification that reflects the true evolutionary relationships between living things. This classification provides a framework for understanding biodiversity and is essential for fields such as ecology, conservation and evolutionary biology.