Prospects and challenges for parametric models in historical biogeographical inference

摘要: In historical biogeography, phylogenetic trees have long been used as tools for addressing a wide range of inference problems, from explaining common distribution patterns species to reconstructing ancestral geographic ranges on branches the tree life. However, potential utility phylogenies this purpose has yet be fully realized, due in part lack explicit conceptual links between processes underlying evolution and growth. We suggest that statistical approaches use parametric models forge such will stimulate integration propel hypothesis-driven biogeographical inquiry new directions. highlight here two describe how they represent early steps towards more general framework model-based biogeography is based likelihood an optimality criterion, rather than having traditional reliance parsimony. The development not without significant challenges, particularly balancing model complexity with power, these most apparent studies regions many component areas complex geological histories, Mediterranean Basin.