Challenge Problem 7: Exploring multi-regime models for continuous traits

Download the following two data files (you may have them already).

  1. elopomorph.tre
  2. elopomorph.csv

Use stochastic character mapping to generate 100 stochastic character maps of feeding mode on the tree of elopomorphs, then use brownie.lite and OUwie to fit a multi-rate & a multi-regime OU model to the continuous character, transformed to a log-scale. Remember to compare models for discrete character evolution to make sure that the model you choose for stochastic mapping is justified.

What do you find? How might you test a hypothesis that rates or regimes differ between feeding modes, integrating over uncertainty in the discrete character history and uncertainty in parameter estimation given any particular history? Are there other sources of uncertainty that have been ignored?

Written by Liam J. Revell. Last updated 7 December 2016.