Taller de métodos filogenéticos, BML

"Phylogenetic methods have revolutionized modern systematics and become indispensable tools in evolution, ecology and comparative biology, playing an increasingly important role in analyses of biological data at levels of organization ranging from molecules to ecological communities. The construction of phylogenetic trees is becoming a methodology that is well-defined, with broad agreement on the central issues and questions. A nearly standard set of topics is now taught as part of the curriculum at many colleges and universities. On the other hand, application of phylogenetic methods to interesting problems outside of systematics is an area of special excitement, innovation, and controversy, and perspectives vary widely."

"In March, 2008, for the ninth year, we will teach a workshop for graduate students interested in applying phylogenetic methods to diverse topics in biology. The one-week course will be an intensive exploration of problems to which modern phylogenetic tools are being applied. We cover a range of topics in biogeography, ecology, conservation biology, phylogenomics, functional morphology, macroevolution, speciation, and character evolution. The course starts with recent advances in phylogenetic methodology, and then focuses on methods and tools that can be brought to bear on these "applied" issues in the context of a given phylogeny."

"Application Deadline. Applications are due by January 15, 2008."

Literatura reciente, 1

A Comprehensive Phylogeny of Beetles Reveals the Evolutionary Origins of a Superradiation.

Hunt, T. et al. Science 21 December 2007:Vol. 318. no. 5858, pp. 1913 - 1916

Beetles represent almost one-fourth of all described species, and knowledge about their relationships and evolution adds to our understanding of biodiversity. We performed a comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of Coleoptera inferred from three genes and nearly 1900 species, representing more than 80% of the world's recognized beetle families. We defined basal relationships in the Polyphaga supergroup, which contains over 300,000 species, and established five families as the earliest branching lineages. By dating the phylogeny, we found that the success of beetles is explained neither by exceptional net diversification rates nor by a predominant role of herbivory and the Cretaceous rise of angiosperms. Instead, the pre-Cretaceous origin of more than 100 present-day lineages suggests that beetle species richness is due to high survival of lineages and sustained diversification in a variety of niches.

Mathematics and Informatics in Evolution and Phylogeny

Mathematics and Informatics in Evolution and Phylogeny
June 10-12, 2008
France, Montpellier area: Hameau de l'Etoile
http://www.lirmm.fr/MIEP08/

Non-exhaustive list of topics: phylogenetics, evolutionary genetics and
genomics, molecular evolution of pathogens and epidemiology, biodiversity,
statistical modelling, algorithmics, and software development.

The number of participants will be limited. Registrations are open on
conference web site.