phylogenetic signal

Phylogenetic signal refers to the tendency of related species to resemble each other more than they resemble species drawn at random from the larger group. It indicates that certain traits or characteristics are inherited from common ancestors, reflecting evolutionary relationships. Essentially, a strong phylogenetic signal means that the way species look or behave is closely connected to their shared evolutionary history, allowing scientists to predict traits based on how species are related on the family tree. This concept helps us understand how traits evolve and spread within groups of related organisms.