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A Practical Guide to Phylogenetics for Nonexperts
Published on: February 5, 2014
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Fitting and evaluating univariate and multivariate models of within-lineage evolution
1Natural History Museum P.O. 1172, Blindern, 0318 Oslo, Norway.
Summary
Evolutionary models reveal how lineages adapt to changing environments. New R package evoTS aids analysis of fossil data for understanding phenotypic evolution in radiolarians and sticklebacks.
Area of Science:
- Paleontology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Quantitative Genetics
Background:
- Understanding phenotypic evolution in lineages is crucial for paleontology and evolutionary biology.
- Analyzing evolutionary time-series from the fossil record offers insights into evolutionary debates.
- Limited models for fossil data may hinder interpretation of phenotypic evolution.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate contrasting hypotheses of trait evolution using uni- and multivariate models.
- To investigate the evolution of body size in *Eucyrtidium calvertense*.
- To examine the multivariate evolution of armor traits in *Gasterosteus doryssus*.
Main Methods:
- Application of uni- and multivariate models of trait evolution with varying adaptive landscape dynamics.
- Analysis of phenotypic evolution in fossil radiolarians and sticklebacks.
- Utilizing the R package evoTS, built upon the paleoTS framework.
Main Results:
- Body size evolution in *E. calvertense* is explained by an adaptive landscape shift coinciding with neosympatry.
- Multivariate armor trait evolution in *G. doryssus* shows adaptation to independent optima alongside correlated trait changes.
- Fitted models provide a framework for analyzing phenotypic evolution in fossil lineages.
Conclusions:
- The study demonstrates the utility of advanced evolutionary models for interpreting fossil data.
- Phenotypic evolution can be driven by adaptive landscape shifts and correlated trait changes.
- The evoTS R package facilitates the analysis of evolutionary time-series data.
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