Abstract
Different analytical methods can yield competing interpretations of evolutionary history and, currently, there is no definitive method for phylogenetic reconstruction using morphological data. Parsimony has been the primary method for analysing morphological data, but there has been a resurgence of interest in the likelihood-based Mk-model. Here, we test the performance of the Bayesian implementation of the Mk-model relative to both equal and implied-weight implementations of parsimony. Using simulated morphological data, we demonstrate that the Mk-model outperforms equal-weights parsimony in terms of topological accuracy, and implied-weights performs the most poorly. However, the Mk-model produces phylogenies that have less resolution than parsimony methods. This difference in the accuracy and precision of parsimony and Bayesian approaches to topology estimation needs to be considered when selecting a method for phylogeny reconstruction.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 20160081 |
Journal | Biology Letters |
Volume | 12 |
Issue number | 4 |
Early online date | 19 Apr 2016 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 19 Apr 2016 |
Funding
This research was funded by NERC (NE/L501554/1 to J.E.O'R. and L.P.; NE/K500823/1 to M.N.P.; NE/L002434/1 to J.F.; NE/N003438/1 to P.C.J.D.), BBSRC (BB/N000919/1 to P.C.J.D.)
Keywords
- Bayesian
- Likelihood
- Morphology
- Parsimony
- Phylogenetics
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Agricultural and Biological Sciences (miscellaneous)
- General Agricultural and Biological Sciences