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Phylocom: software for the analysis of phylogenetic community structure and trait evolution
Campbell O Webb1, David D Ackerly, Steven W Kembel
1Arnold Arboretum, Harvard University, 22 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA. cwebb@oeb.harvard.edu
Bioinformatics (Oxford, England)
|August 6, 2008
Summary
Phylocom software integrates ecological and evolutionary analyses using phylogenetic and trait data. It calculates community structure, phylogenetic signal, and correlated evolution, aiding scientific workflows.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Bioinformatics
Background:
- Increasing availability of phylogenetic and trait data necessitates integrated ecological and evolutionary analysis software.
- Existing tools may not adequately bridge community ecology and evolutionary biology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce Phylocom, a software package designed for integrated ecological and evolutionary analyses.
- To provide a unified framework for analyzing phylogenetic community structure and species traits.
Main Methods:
- Phylocom calculates metrics of phylogenetic community structure and trait similarity.
- It implements hypothesis testing using various null models.
- The software measures phylogenetic signal and correlated evolution for species traits.
Main Results:
- Phylocom offers a comprehensive suite of tools for community and phylogenetic data manipulation.
- It facilitates tree and trait generation within a cohesive analytical framework.
- The software supports integration into broader scientific workflows.
Conclusions:
- Phylocom addresses the need for integrated ecological and evolutionary software.
- It provides robust methods for analyzing community structure, trait evolution, and phylogenetic signal.
- The open-source availability promotes its adoption in scientific research.
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