The Growth of Phylogenetic Information and the Need for a Phylogenetic Data Base

In the wake of widespread acceptance of phylogenetic methods, it is appropriate to assess how fast phylogenetic knowledge is accumulating. To obtain a rough indica? tion of this rate, we surveyed phylogenetic analyses in the recent literature. The re? sults raise an important information man? agement issue. The volume of phyloge? netic information now becoming available may soon compel the systematics com? munity to confront its own rapidly ex? panding knowledge base in a deliberate and concerted manner. In this note, we present quantitative evidence regarding the growth rate of phylogenetic informa? tion and then argue for the establishment of an electronic data base of phylogenetic data and results.