NCSU Systematics and Molecular Evolution Reading Group

Fall 2007

Thursdays at 4 PM, 4704 Bostian Hall

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The Systematics and Molecular Evolution Reading Group meets weekly to discuss current ideas in evolutionary biology. This semester, we will focus on several themes:

  • Comparative Methods
  • Phylogenetic Inference
  • Divergence Time Estimation
  • Philosophy of Taxonomy (i.e. the barcode of life, taxonomic practice, etc.)

Please email Brian Wiegmann for more information at bwiegman(a)unity.ncsu.edu, or just show up!


For Fall 2007

September 6, 2007 - Shelah

Topic: Recent Comparative Methods Programs

I will provide an annotated list of Comparative Methods software and focus on one new method and it's implementation.

Bollback, J. P. (2006) SIMMAP: Stochastic character mapping of discrete traits on phylogenies. BMC Bioinformatics. 7:88. [PDF]

An example of SIMMAP in action: Baker, A.J., Pereira, S.L., Haddrath, O.P., and Edge, K-A. (2006) Multiple gene evidence for expansion of extant penguins out of Antarctica due to global cooling. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 273(1582):11-17. [PDF]

Further reading:

Butler, M.A., King, A.A. (2004) Phylogenetic comparative analysis: a modeling approach for adaptive evolution. the American Naturalist. 164(6):683-695. [PDF]

O'Meara, B.C., C. Ané, M.J. Sanderson, and P.C. Wainwright. (2006) Testing for different rates of continuous trait evolution using likelihood. Evolution 60(5): 922-933. [PDF]

September 13, 2007 - Jenny

Topic: Character shifts and patterns of diversification- A bit more on comparative methods

Jenny will present some slides on her research applying the same approach as the following paper:

Moore, B.R. and M.J. Donoghue. (2007) Correlates of Diversification in the Plant Clade Dipsacales: Geographic Movement and Evolutionary Innovations. American Naturalist 170:S28-S55. [PDF]

September 20, 2007

No Meeting

September 27, 2007

Open

October 4, 2007 -Brian/Julia/Jeff/Jenny

Topic: Divergence Time Estimation Software

Suggested paper:

John J. Wiens, Caitlin A. Kuczynski, William E. Duellman, and Tod W. Reeder (2007) LOSS AND RE-EVOLUTION OF COMPLEX LIFE CYCLES IN MARSUPIAL FROGS: DOES ANCESTRAL TRAIT RECONSTRUCTION MISLEAD? Evol. 61(8):1886-1899. [PDF]

October 11, 2007 - (Winter Break)

No Meeting

October 18, 2007 - Brian

Introgression

Catherine R. Linnen and Brian D. Farrell (2007)MITONUCLEAR DISCORDANCE IS CAUSED BY RAMPANT MITOCHONDRIAL INTROGRESSION IN NEODIPRION (HYMENOPTERA: DIPRIONIDAE) SAWFLIES. Evol. 61(6) 1417-1438. [PDF]

October 25, 2007 - Kristin

Predicting Species Distributions

Raxworthy, C. J., E. Martinez-Meyer, N. Horning, R. A. Nussbaum, G. E. Schneider, M. A. Ortega-Huerta, and A. T. Peterson. 2003b. Predicting distributions of known and unknown reptile species in Madagascar. Nature 426:837-841. [PDF]

Pearson, R. G., C. J. Raxworthy, M. Nakamura, and A. T. Peterson. 2007. Predicting species' distributions from small numbers of occurrence records: a test case using cryptic geckos in Madagascar. Journal of Biogeography 34 (1), 102–117. [PDF]

 

November 1, 2007 - Keith/Whitney

Topic: Determining whether speciation and extinction rates depend on the state of a particular character

Maddison WP, PE Midford, SP Otto. (2007) Estimating a Binary Character's Effect on Speciation and Extinction. Systematic Biology 56(5): 701-710. [PDF]

November 8, 2007 - Matt B.

Topic: Phylogenetic inference of rapid radiations

Liat Shavit, David Penny, Michael D. Hendy, and Barbara R. Holland. (2007) The Problem of Rooting Rapid Radiations. Mol. Biol. Evol. 24(11):2400–2411. [PDF]

November 15, 2007 - Cancelled for Clockwork

Clockwork event at NESCent, Nov 13th.

"The Macroevolution of Metazoan Phyla: Potential Insights from Molecular Clocks and microRNAs"

Presented by: Kevin J. Peterson, Ph.D.

Reception from 5:30-6:00 with a talk at 6:00

Hope to see you there!

November 22, 2007 - Thanksgiving

No Meeting

November 29, 2007 - Sang Chul

TBA

December 6, 2007 - Julia

Bayesian Methods for studying morphologic and mosaic evolution

 

 
If you're looking for a paper from a previous semester, try: