Advances in Phylogenetic Comparative Methods. (2008-2010)
Abstract
An understanding of the evolutionary biology of organisms requires comparing traits among species. Biologists use statistical techniques to take into account evolutionary history when comparing species. This project addresses three problems in the use of these methods: 1) determine how to analyse such data when some of the data is missing, 2) correct for small sample bias in certain types of analyses, and 3) develop better methods for constructing measures of uncertainty, while taking evolutionary history into account. Solving these problems will allow biologists worldwide to better analyse their data. Computer software to implement these methods will be developed.
