Total evidence phylogeny of Gasterosteidae: combining molecular, morphological and behavioral data.

Genealogical relationships among Gasterosteidae (Teleostei: Gasterosteiformes) were tested with 84 morphological, 48 behavioral, and 2879 molecular characters. Phylogenetic analysis of the combined data set identified a single (CI = 0.735) best-supported hypothesis (Spinachia (Apeltes ((Pungitius + Culaea)(Gasterosteus aculeatus + G. wheatlandi)))). This hypothesis is identical to previous phylogenetic propositions proposed on the basis of behavioral, and behavioral plus morphological data. Our hypothesis, however, differed from a molecular-based phylogeny in the placement of Apeltes. This analysis highlights the importance of combining all available evidence in order to produce the best-supported proposition of genealogical relationships.