Phylogenetic Perspectives in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior

3 Hours

Explore the theory, methods, and applications of phylogenetics in ecology, evolution, and behavior. Examine the development of phylogenetics; the various phylogenetic optimality criteria and their advantages and disadvantages (include non-parametric, semi-parametric, and parametric methods); models of evolution for molecular and morphological data; algorithms and heuristics for searching solution space. Discuss Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo approaches; phylogenetic simulation; statistical assessment of phylogenetic results; molecular clocks; and major applications of phylogenetics. Biology 384K (Topic 39) and Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior 384K (Topic 6) may not both be counted.