B. C. O'Meara

Noise leads to the perceived increase in evolutionary rates over short time scales

The paper shows that apparent increases in evolutionary rates over short time scales are statistical artifacts caused by time-independent errors in data.

Identifying climatic drivers of hybridization in Heuchereae (Saxifragaceae)

This study identifies climatic factors driving hybridization in Heuchereae by analyzing phylogenetic data and paleoclimatic records.

Two shifts in evolutionary lability underlie independent gains and losses of root-nodule symbiosis in a single clade of plants

The paper reconstructs the evolutionary history of root-nodule symbiosis in the nitrogen-fixing clade, identifying a two-step process involving shifts in evolutionary lability that explain multiple independent gains and losses of the trait.

Datelife: leveraging databases and analytical tools to reveal the dated Tree of Life.

DateLife provides tools to find, summarize, and reanalyze peer-reviewed evolutionary chronograms, enabling exploration of alternative evolutionary timing hypotheses.

Fossils Do Not Substantially Improve, and May Even Harm, Estimates of Diversification Rate Heterogeneity

This study shows that including fossils rarely improves estimates of diversification rate heterogeneity and may even reduce precision in certain scenarios.

A flexible method for estimating tip diversification rates across a range of speciation and extinction scenarios

The paper introduces MiSSE, a method for estimating tip diversification rates across various speciation and extinction scenarios, showing low error and demonstrating its application to eucalypt plant height and turnover rates.

Age, Origin, and Biogeography: Unveiling the Factors Behind the Diversification of Dung Beetles

This study estimates the origin and biogeographic history of dung beetles, supporting an old age and Gondwanan origin but leaving the relationship between range and diversification unclear.

The Shape of Trees - Limits of Current Diversification Models

The paper evaluates diversification models using tree shape analysis, finding that while most phylogenies can be described by at least one model, adequacy testing is crucial for reliable results.

BoskR - Testing Adequacy of Diversification Models Using Tree Shape

BoskR assesses diversification model adequacy by comparing tree shapes from simulated and empirical phylogenies using graph Laplacian metrics.

Unlocking a signal of introgression from codons in Lachancea kluyveri using a mutation-selectino model

The paper uses a mutation-selection model to analyze codon usage differences between endogenous and introgressed genes in Lachancea kluyveri, revealing distinct mutation biases and improving predictions of protein synthesis rates.

Gene Expression of Functionally-Related Genes Coevolves Across Fungal Species: Detecting Coevolution of Gene Expression Using Phylogenetic Comparative Methods

This study uses phylogenetic comparative methods to detect coevolution of gene expression across 18 fungal species, finding that physically interacting proteins show stronger coevolution signals.