Trees from trees: construction of phylogenetic supertrees using clann

Area of Science:

• Phylogenetics and Evolutionary Biology
• Computational Biology
• Bioinformatics

Background:

• Phylogenetic trees are crucial for understanding evolutionary relationships but are often limited by data availability or computational complexity.
• Combining information from disparate sources (e.g., molecular and morphological data) or partially overlapping datasets presents a significant challenge in phylogenetics.
• Supertree methods offer a powerful approach to synthesize multiple phylogenetic trees, overcoming limitations of individual datasets and computational intractability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and explain supertree methods for reconstructing a comprehensive phylogenetic tree from multiple sources.
• To demonstrate the utility of supertree approaches in addressing long-standing phylogenetic challenges.
• To provide a practical guide for using the 'clann' software for supertree construction.

Main Methods:

• Description of widely used supertree methodologies.
• Step-by-step tutorial for using the 'clann' software.
• Utilizing 'clann' for investigating phylogenetic information and reconstructing supertrees.

Main Results:

• Supertree methods enable the integration of phylogenetic information from datasets with partial overlaps and diverse data types.
• The 'clann' software provides a user-friendly platform for implementing these supertree methods.
• Application of supertree approaches can illuminate previously intractable phylogenetic problems.

Conclusions:

• Supertree methods, particularly as implemented in 'clann', are effective tools for synthesizing phylogenetic data.
• The software facilitates the reconstruction of robust phylogenetic trees, aiding in resolving evolutionary conundrums.
• 'clann' is a valuable, freely available resource for the bioinformatics and evolutionary biology communities.