Phylogeny and divergence of the pinnipeds (Carnivora: Mammalia) assessed using a multigene dataset.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Phylogenetic comparative methods are often improved by complete phylogenies with meaningful branch lengths (e.g., divergence dates). This study presents a dated molecular supertree for all 34 world pinniped species derived from a weighted matrix representation with parsimony (MRP) supertree analysis of 50 gene trees, each determined under a maximum likelihood (ML) framework. Divergence times were determined by mapping the same sequence data (plus two additional genes) on to the supertree topology and calibrating the ML branch lengths against a range of fossil calibrations. We assessed the sensitivity of our supertree topology in two ways: 1) a second supertree with all mtDNA genes combined into a single source tree, and 2) likelihood-based supermatrix analyses. Divergenc

SUBMITTER: Higdon JW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2245807 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature