A phylogenetic comparative method for studying multivariate adaptation
Journal article, 2012

Phylogenetic comparative methods have been limited in the way they model adaptation. Although some progress has been made, there are still no methods that can fully account for coadaptation between traits. Based on Ornstein–Uhlenbeck (OU) models of adaptive evolution, we present a method, with R implementation, in which multiple traits evolve both in response to each other and, as in previous OU models, to fixed or randomly evolving predictor variables. We present the interpretation of the model parameters in terms of evolutionary and optimal regressions enabling the study of allometric and adaptive relationships between traits. To illustrate the method we reanalyze a data set of antler and body-size evolution in deer (Cervidae).

Ornstein–Uhlenbeck process

Allometry

Multivariate phylogenetic comparative method

Adaptation

Optimality

Author

Krzysztof Bartoszek

University of Gothenburg

Chalmers, Mathematical Sciences, Mathematical Statistics

Jason Pienaar

University of Pretoria

Petter Mostad

Chalmers, Mathematical Sciences, Mathematical Statistics

University of Gothenburg

Staffan Andersson

University of Gothenburg

T. F. Hansen

University of Oslo

Journal of Theoretical Biology

0022-5193 (ISSN) 1095-8541 (eISSN)

Vol. 314 204-215

Subject Categories

Evolutionary Biology

Probability Theory and Statistics

DOI

10.1016/j.jtbi.2012.08.005

More information

Latest update

9/18/2019