Phylogenetic Biogeography Inference Using Dynamic Paleogeography Models and Explicit Geographic Ranges

Area of Science:

• Paleobiogeography
• Computational Biology
• Geology

Background:

• Phylogenetic biogeography methods often use predefined areas or assume a static Earth, neglecting tectonic and landscape changes.
• Existing methods fail to account for the dynamic nature of Earth's geography over evolutionary timescales.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel phylogenetic biogeography method that integrates explicit geographic ranges with dynamic paleogeographic reconstructions.
• To improve the accuracy of ancestral area and dispersal path inferences by incorporating plate motion and paleolandscape models.

Main Methods:

• A high-resolution pixelated Earth model is used, incorporating plate motion and paleolandscape data derived from geological models.
• Biogeographic inference is based on diffusion, approximating landscape effects using a time-stratified model that accounts for geographic changes.
• A simplified stochastic mapping algorithm infers ancestral locations and lineage distances traveled.

Main Results:

• The method provides detailed reconstructions of ancestral areas for the Sapindaceae plant family.
• It enables inferences on probable dispersal paths and diffusion speeds across the taxon's evolutionary history.
• Demonstrates the utility of explicit geographic data coupled with high-resolution paleogeographic models.

Conclusions:

• The proposed method, implemented in PhyGeo, offers a significant advancement in phylogenetic biogeography by modeling a dynamic Earth.
• Accurate paleogeographic reconstructions are crucial for understanding evolutionary history and species distribution.
• This approach enhances the reconstruction of ancestral areas, dispersal routes, and evolutionary rates.