Considering the phylogenetic trees above as strictly hypothetical and applying the principle of parsimony to the trait "ability to fly," which of the two phylogenetic trees shown is better?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

According to the principle of parsimony, the tree with the fewest number of evolutionary changes is preferred. In Tree 1, the trait "ability to fly" only requires one evolutionary change, whereas in Tree 2, it requires two evolutionary changes. Therefore, Tree 1 is the more parsimonious option.

Considering the Phylogenetic Trees Above as Strictly Hypothetical and Applying