Alliance (biology)

In biology, an alliance is an informal grouping used in biological taxonomy. The term "alliance" is not a taxonomic rank defined in any of the nomenclature codes. It is used for any group of species[1] or genera[2] to which authors wish to refer, that have at some time provisionally been considered to be closely related.

The term is often used for a group that authors are studying in further detail in order to refine the complex taxonomy. For example, a molecular phylogenetics study of the Aerides–Vanda Alliance (Orchidaceae: Epidendroideae) confirmed that the group is monophyletic, and clarified which species belong in each of the 14 genera.[3] In other orchid groups, the various alliances that have been defined do not correspond well to clades.[4]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Emshwiller, E. (2002), "Ploidy Levels among Species in the ‘Oxalis tuberosa Alliance’ as Inferred by Flow Cytometry", Annals of Botany 89 (6): 741–753, doi:10.1093/aob/mcf135
  2. ↑ Zhai, J.-W.; Zhang, G.-Q.; Li, L.; Wang, M.; Chen, L.-J.; Chung, S.-W.; et al. (2014), "A new phylogenetic analysis sheds new light on the relationships in the Calanthe alliance (Orchidaceae) in China", Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 77 (Complete): 216–222, doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2014.04.005
  3. ↑ Guo-Qiang Zhang , Ke-Wei Liu , Li-Jun Chen, Xin-Ju Xiao, Jun-Wen Zhai, Li-Qiang Li, Jing Cai, Yu-Yun Hsiao, Wen-Hui Rao, Jie Huang, Xue-Yong Ma, Shih-Wen Chung, Lai-Qiang Huang, Wen-Chieh Tsai , Zhong-Jian Liu: A New Molecular Phylogeny and a New Genus, Pendulorchis, of the Aerides–Vanda Alliance (Orchidaceae: Epidendroideae); PLOS One, April 5, 2013; DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0060097
  4. ↑ Salazar, G.A.; Chase, M.W.; Soto Arenas, M.A.; Ingrouille, M. (2003), "Phylogenetics of Cranichideae with emphasis on Spiranthinae (Orchidaceae, Orchidoideae): evidence from plastid and nuclear DNA sequences", American Journal of Botany 90 (5): 777–795, doi:10.3732/ajb.90.5.777
Taxonomic ranks
Magnorder
Domain/Superkingdom Superphylum/Superdivision Superclass Superorder Superfamily Supertribe Superspecies
Kingdom Phylum/Division Class Legion Order Family Tribe Genus Species
Subkingdom Subphylum Subclass Cohort Suborder Subfamily Subtribe Subgenus Subspecies
Infrakingdom/Branch Infraphylum Infraclass Infraorder Section Infraspecies
Microphylum Parvclass Parvorder Series Variety
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