Exploring power and parameter estimation of the BiSSE method for analyzing species diversification.

ABSTRACT:

Background

There has been a considerable increase in studies investigating rates of diversification and character evolution, with one of the promising techniques being the BiSSE method (binary state speciation and extinction). This study uses simulations under a variety of different sample sizes (number of tips) and asymmetries of rate (speciation, extinction, character change) to determine BiSSE's ability to test hypotheses, and investigate whether the method is susceptible to confounding effects.

Results

We found that the power of the BiSSE method is severely affected by both sample size and high tip ratio bias (one character state dominates among observed tips). Sample size and high tip ratio bias also reduced accuracy and precision of parameter estimation, and resulted i

SUBMITTER: Davis MP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3583807 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature