Estimating Trait-Dependent Speciation and Extinction Rates from Incompletely Resolved Phylogenies

• DOI: 10.1093/sysbio/syp067
• Publication Date: 2009-10-16T01:55:21Z
• Authors: Richard G. FitzJohn; Wayne P. Maddison; Sarah P. Otto
• Keywords: Extinction (optical mineralogy); Genetic algorithm; Trait

Species traits may influence rates of speciation and extinction, affecting both the patterns diversification among lineages distribution species. Existing likelihood approaches for detecting differential require complete phylogenies; that is, every extant species must be present in a well-resolved phylogeny. We developed 2 methods can used to infer effect trait on extinction without phylogenetic information, generalizing recent binary-state method. Our where phylogeny reasonably assumed random sample or all are included but some assigned only terminal unresolved clades. explored effects decreasing resolution ability our approach detect within Bayesian framework using simulated phylogenies. Differential caused by an asymmetry was nearly as well detected with 50% phylogenetically resolved knowledge. demonstrate clade method analysis sexual dimorphism shorebirds (Charadriiformes). allow direct estimation incompletely