Why are phylogenetic trees revised?

Phylogenetic trees, much like the rest of Biology as a whole, are constantly changing. This just means when new information is available about a tree, our prior understanding of a certain phylogeny wasn't correct and it must be revised. The phylogenetic tree is split into many branches and we understand some of those branches better than others. Biology just happens to be one of those sciences that's always changing as we learn more and more, and the Phylogenetic tree of life is one of those areas that reflects this constant change.

Phylogenetic trees are updated to reflect new knowledge about the evolutionary relationships between organisms and to incorporate new data, such as DNA sequences or fossil evidence, to improve accuracy.

Phylogenetic trees are revised for several reasons, including:

1. New Data: As new genetic, morphological, or ecological data become available, they may provide insights that require revisions to existing phylogenetic trees.

2. Improved Methods: Advances in computational techniques and statistical methods may lead to more accurate or refined phylogenetic reconstructions, prompting revisions to previously constructed trees.

3. Taxonomic Changes: Revisions in taxonomic classifications, such as the discovery of new species or reclassification of existing ones, can necessitate adjustments to phylogenetic trees to reflect updated relationships among organisms.

4. Error Correction: Errors in data collection, analysis, or interpretation may lead to inaccuracies in phylogenetic trees, prompting revisions to correct these errors and ensure the accuracy of evolutionary relationships depicted in the tree.

5. Resolution of Conflicts: Conflicting or ambiguous results from different studies or datasets may require revisions to reconcile discrepancies and arrive at a more consistent representation of evolutionary relationships.

Overall, revising phylogenetic trees is essential for maintaining the accuracy and relevance of evolutionary hypotheses and ensuring that they reflect the best available understanding of the relationships among different organisms.