Open AccessThe phylogenetic signal in tooth wear: What does it mean?
Author(s) -
DeSantis Larisa,
Fortelius Mikael,
Grine Frederick E.,
Janis Christine,
Kaiser Thomas M.,
Merceron Gildas,
Purnell Mark A.,
SchulzKornas Ellen,
Saarinen Juha,
Teaford Mark,
Ungar Peter S.,
Žliobaitė Indrė
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
ecology and evolution
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.17
H-Index - 63
ISSN - 2045-7758
DOI - 10.1002/ece3.4541
Subject(s) - phylogenetic tree , clade , artifact (error) , evolutionary biology , phylogenetic comparative methods , set (abstract data type) , sort , process (computing) , biology , computer science , artificial intelligence , information retrieval , genetics , gene , operating system , programming language
A new study by Fraser et al (2018) urges the use of phylogenetic comparative methods, whenever possible, in analyses of mammalian tooth wear. We are concerned about this for two reasons. First, this recommendation may mislead the research community into thinking that phylogenetic signal is an artifact of some sort rather than a fundamental outcome of the evolutionary process. Secondly, this recommendation may set a precedent for editors and reviewers to enforce phylogenetic adjustment where it may unnecessarily weaken or even directionally alter the results, shifting the emphasis of analysis from common patterns manifested by large clades to rare cases.