Bayesian tests of topology hypotheses with an example from diving beetles.

ABSTRACT: We review Bayesian approaches to model testing in general and to the assessment of topological hypotheses in particular. We show that the standard way of setting up Bayes factor tests of the monophyly of a group, or the placement of a sample sequence in a known reference tree, can be misleading. The reason for this is related to the well-known dependency of Bayes factors on model-specific priors. Specifically, when testing tree hypotheses it is important that each hypothesis is associated with an appropriate tree space in the prior. This can be achieved by using appropriately constrained searches or by filtering trees in the posterior sample, but in a more elaborate way than typically implemented. If it is difficult to find the appropriate tree sets to be contrasted, then the posterior mod

SUBMITTER: Bergsten J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3739882 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature