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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
missing taxa and
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "missing taxa and" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts related to biology, ecology, or paleontology when discussing organisms that are not represented in a particular dataset or study. Example: "The research highlighted the importance of addressing the issue of missing taxa and their potential impact on biodiversity assessments."
✓ Grammatically correct
Science
Alternative expressions(3)
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
5 human-written examples
Missing data also come in the form of missing taxa, and certain groups are less well-sampled than others.
Science
In addition, most of our datasets have a relatively low number of missing taxa and in all cases, the proportion of sampled species is more than the 80% level recently proposed as a threshold [ 54, 56].
Science
However, note that due to missing taxa and multifurcating trees, it is not straightforward to measure supporting and conflicting relationships between a supertree and the gene trees (an alternative definition is presented in [ 36]).
If two out of three of the conditions (g, m, or b) are favourable (i.e. many input trees, few missing taxa, and the probability that the input trees are congruent with the principal trees is high) then both methods work well.
Science
Figure 5 is similar to Figure 4 except that rather than averaging over all values of b and m we focus on the difficult case with the highest number of missing taxa and the most incongruence generated by incomplete lineage-sorting (m = 3, b = 0.5).
Science
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
55 human-written examples
The results are averaged over 100 repetitions and the 12 combinations of number of missing taxa m and coalescent branch lengths b.
Science
Throughout the present analysis, we evaluated the effect of missing characters and missing taxa on tree topology and branch support.
Science
Figure 4 illustrates HGT and missing taxa cases.
For each interior edge, a column is added to the MR, where '0' and '1' indicate the taxa on either side of the edge and missing taxa are coded as '?'.
It is easy to see that MR supertrees also generalize MR consensus in this case: For bifurcating input trees on the same taxon set, MR cannot place missing taxa or resolve multifurcations and thus MR directly minimizes the RF distance to the input trees.
Science
Phylogenies were simulated to the hypothetical full clade size (known missing taxa + 10% unknown missing taxa) under a constant rate pure birth diversification process and taxa were randomly pruned from the tree to mimic incomplete sampling.
Science
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
When discussing phylogenetic analyses, explicitly state how "missing taxa" are handled to ensure transparency and reproducibility in your research.
Common error
Avoid assuming that "missing taxa" have no impact on your analysis. Always assess the potential bias introduced by their absence, as it can significantly affect phylogenetic inferences and evolutionary conclusions.
Source & Trust
83%
Authority and reliability
4.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "missing taxa and" functions primarily as a noun phrase conjunction, connecting the concept of "missing taxa" with additional considerations or factors in scientific discourse. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is grammatically correct and usable.
Frequent in
Science
100%
Less common in
News & Media
0%
Formal & Business
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, the phrase "missing taxa and" is a grammatically sound and scientifically relevant term predominantly used in formal and scientific registers. As Ludwig AI confirms, it effectively communicates the presence of data gaps in biological studies, particularly in phylogenetic analyses. Recognizing and addressing the impact of "missing taxa and" is crucial for robust scientific conclusions. Related terms such as "absent taxa and" or "lacking taxa and" can provide alternative ways to express the same concept. Remember to evaluate and communicate potential biases stemming from missing information when using the phrase in your writing.
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
absent taxa and
Replaces "missing" with "absent", maintaining the same core meaning but with a slightly different tone.
lacking taxa and
Substitutes "missing" with "lacking", indicating a deficiency of taxa.
unrepresented taxa and
Replaces "missing" to emphasize that the taxa are not represented in a dataset or analysis.
incomplete taxa and
Focuses on the incompleteness of the taxa data.
deficient taxa and
Highlights a deficiency in the taxa being considered.
taxa gaps and
Uses a more concise expression to refer to gaps in taxa representation.
data gaps in taxa and
Emphasizes that the missing taxa create gaps in the data.
underrepresented taxa and
Highlights that the taxa are present but not in sufficient quantity.
sparse taxa and
Indicates a scarcity of taxa in the analysis.
omitted taxa and
Focuses on the deliberate exclusion or accidental omission of taxa.
FAQs
How does the presence of "missing taxa" affect phylogenetic analysis?
The presence of "missing taxa" can significantly impact the accuracy and resolution of phylogenetic trees. It can lead to incorrect inferences about evolutionary relationships and branch lengths. Addressing this issue often requires careful consideration of the sampling strategy and the use of appropriate statistical methods.
What statistical methods can account for "missing taxa" in phylogenetic studies?
Several statistical methods can account for "missing taxa" in phylogenetic studies, including imputation techniques, Bayesian methods with explicit models of taxon sampling, and approaches that incorporate clade-specific sampling fractions. These methods aim to mitigate the bias introduced by incomplete taxon sampling.
Why is it important to address "missing taxa" in biodiversity assessments?
Addressing "missing taxa" in biodiversity assessments is crucial because their absence can lead to an underestimation of species richness and an inaccurate understanding of ecosystem structure and function. This can have significant implications for conservation planning and resource management.
What are some alternatives to using the phrase "missing taxa and"?
You can use alternatives like "absent taxa and", "lacking taxa and", or "unrepresented taxa and" depending on the specific context and emphasis you want to convey.
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
83%
Authority and reliability
4.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested