Parsimony analysis of endemism (PAE) and studies of Mexican biogeography

Abstract

PARSIMONY ANALYSIS OF ENDEMISM (PAE) HAS BECOME A POPULAR ANALYTICAL APPROACH IN EFFORTS TO MAP THE BIOGEOGRAPHY OF MEXICAN BIOTAS. ALTHOUGH ATTRACTIVE, THE TECHNIQUE HAS SERIOUS DRAWBACKS THAT MAKE CORRECT INFERENCES OF BIOGEOGRAPHIC HISTORY UNLIKELY, WHICH HAS BEEN NOTED AMPLY IN THE BROADER LITERATURE