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Using Phylogenetic Analysis to Investigate Eukaryotic Gene Origin
Published on: August 14, 2018
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Bridging gaps in demographic analysis with phylogenetic imputation.
Tamora D James1, Roberto Salguero-Gómez2, Owen R Jones3
1Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, U.K.
Summary
Phylogenetic imputation can fill missing bird demographic data, aiding conservation. Including traits like body mass improves accuracy, even without phylogeny, but accurate data is crucial for reliable population models.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Conservation Biology
- Quantitative Biology
Background:
- Estimating missing demographic data (vital rates) for species is crucial for conservation.
- Phylogenetically informed imputation is an underutilized method for reconstructing these vital rates.
- Accurate demographic data is essential for population viability analysis and conservation status assessments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the accuracy and utility of phylogenetically informed imputation for estimating missing vital rates in bird populations.
- To determine the influence of phylogenetic information, body mass, and life-history traits on imputation accuracy.
- To validate the use of imputed vital rates in demographic analyses and metric calculations.
Main Methods:
- Standardized vital rate estimates from 50 bird species were used.
- Imputation accuracy was calculated for missing vital rates, with and without phylogenetic information and trait data.
- Demographic metrics, including generation time, were calculated using imputed vital rates.
Main Results:
- Covariance among vital rates and traits strongly guided imputation, even without phylogenetic information.
- Phylogenetic imputation showed high accuracy, with minimal differences from null models except for high phylogenetic signal rates.
- Including body mass and life-history traits compensated for lack of phylogenetic information when vital rates had high phylogenetic signal.
- Demographic metric estimates, like generation time, were sensitive to the accuracy of imputed vital rates.
Conclusions:
- Phylogenetic imputation is a viable tool for reconstructing missing demographic data in birds.
- Trait data can enhance imputation accuracy, particularly when phylogenetic signal is high.
- Careful consideration of imputation accuracy is essential when using these data for conservation planning and demographic modeling.
Keywords:
conservation modelingdemographic modelsdinámicas poblacionalesestimación de parámetrosextinction riskgeneration timemodelado de la conservaciónmodelos demográficosparameter estimationpopulation dynamicspopulation growth rateriesgo de extinciónsupervivenciasurvivaltasa de crecimiento poblacionaltiempo de generación世代时长人口模型保护模型参数估计存活灭绝风险种群动态种群增长率
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