Modeling the Evolution of Rates of Continuous Trait Evolution

Bruce S Martin; Gideon S Bradburd; Luke J Harmon; Marjorie G Weber

doi:10.1093/sysbio/syac068

journal article Open Access Nov 16, 2022

Modeling the Evolution of Rates of Continuous Trait Evolution

Bruce S Martin

Gideon S Bradburd

Luke J Harmon

Marjorie G Weber

Systematic Biology Vol. 72 No. 3 pp. 590-605 · Oxford University Press (OUP)

View at Publisher Save 10.1093/sysbio/syac068

Abstract

Abstract
Rates of phenotypic evolution vary markedly across the tree of life, from the accelerated evolution apparent in adaptive radiations to the remarkable evolutionary stasis exhibited by so-called “living fossils.” Such rate variation has important consequences for large-scale evolutionary dynamics, generating vast disparities in phenotypic diversity across space, time, and taxa. Despite this, most methods for estimating trait evolution rates assume rates vary deterministically with respect to some variable of interest or change infrequently during a clade’s history. These assumptions may cause underfitting of trait evolution models and mislead hypothesis testing. Here, we develop a new trait evolution model that allows rates to vary gradually and stochastically across a clade. Further, we extend this model to accommodate generally decreasing or increasing rates over time, allowing for flexible modeling of “early/late bursts” of trait evolution. We implement a Bayesian method, termed “evolving rates” (evorates for short), to efficiently fit this model to comparative data. Through simulation, we demonstrate that evorates can reliably infer both how and in which lineages trait evolution rates varied during a clade’s history. We apply this method to body size evolution in cetaceans, recovering substantial support for an overall slowdown in body size evolution over time with recent bursts among some oceanic dolphins and relative stasis among beaked whales of the genus Mesoplodon. These results unify and expand on previous research, demonstrating the empirical utility of evorates. [cetacea; macroevolution; comparative methods; phenotypic diversity; disparity; early burst; late burst]

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References

Details

Published: Nov 16, 2022
Vol/Issue: 72(3)
Pages: 590-605
License: View

Authors

B

Bruce S Martin

Department of Plant Biology, Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior Program, Michigan State University , East Lansing, MI 48824 , USA

G

Gideon S Bradburd

Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan , Ann Arbor, MI 48109 , USA

L

Luke J Harmon

Department of Biological Sciences, Institute for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies (IBEST), University of Idaho , Moscow, ID 83843 , USA

M

Marjorie G Weber

Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan , Ann Arbor, MI 48109 , USA

Funding

National Science Foundation Award: DEB-1831164

Cite This Article

Bruce S Martin, Gideon S Bradburd, Luke J Harmon, et al. (2022). Modeling the Evolution of Rates of Continuous Trait Evolution. Systematic Biology, 72(3), 590-605. https://doi.org/10.1093/sysbio/syac068

Modeling the Evolution of Rates of Continuous Trait Evolution

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