Seeing the Woods for the Trees Again: Analyzing Evolutionary Diagrams in German and US University-Level Textbooks

Phylogenetic trees are important tools for teaching and understanding evolution, yet students struggle to read interpret them correctly. In this study, we extend a study conducted by Catley Novick (2008) investigating depictions of evolutionary in US textbooks. We investigated 1197 diagrams from 11 German United States university textbooks, conducting cross-country comparison comparing the results with data 2008 study. A coding manual was developed based on extensions focused additional aspects trees. The books showed only low number significant differences, typically very small impacts. both samples, some characteristics that can render reading more difficult or foster misconceptions were found be prevalent various portions diagrams. Furthermore, textbooks fewer problematic properties our sample than sample. conclude represented comparably have improved over past 12 years. As confronted comparable relatedness, argue findings materials one country should easily transferable other.