PleistoDist: A toolbox for visualising and quantifying the effects of Pleistocene sea-level change on island archipelagos

• DOI: 10.1101/2022.05.13.491891
• Publication Date: 2022-05-20T12:36:44Z
• Authors: David J.X. Tan; Ethan F. Gyllenhaal; Michael J. Andersen
• Keywords: Archipelago

Abstract Pleistocene sea-level change played a significant role in the evolution and assembly of island biotas. The formation land bridges between islands during Quaternary glacial maxima, when sea levels were up to 120 metres below present-day levels, often facilitated historical dispersal gene flow that are today geographically disconnected. Despite this, relatively few studies have attempted quantify effects on species assemblages. Here we present PleistoDist, an R package allows users visualise over time, test multiple temporally explicit hypotheses inter-island community assembly. Re-analysing published datasets, demonstrate how using PleistoDist account for can provide greater explanatory power analysing extant communities, show population genetic simulations be used generate spatiotemporally neutral expectations structure across archipelagos.