Re: stratocladistics

[Dinogeorge@aol.com]

In a message dated 8/31/99 9:03:21 PM EST, cbrochu@fmppr.fmnh.org writes 
(replying to me):

<< > 
 > (3) Isn't any kind of a sample, uniform or not, better than no sample at 
all?
 > Even a poor sample can falsify some hypotheses.
 
 Actually, a poor sample can positively mislead - many simulations have
 shown this. >>

Which brings up the meaning of the term "mislead." Do you mean that 
incorporation of stratigraphic data from a poorly sampled fossil record will 
somehow render a cladistic analysis incorrect? Or do you mean that a poorly 
sampled fossil record may in some way conflict with a cladistic analysis? On 
what basis would you resolve this kind of conflict/misleading analysis? That 
is, how would you know which data are the misleading ones?