Reboud, E. L. | bioRxiv Science

bioRxiv2021

Pulled Diversification Rates, Lineage-Through-Time Plots and Modern Macroevolutionary Modelling

AO_SCPLOWBSTRACTC_SCPLOWEstimating time-dependent rates of speciation and extinction from dated phylogenetic trees of extant species (timetrees), and determining how and why they vary, is key to understanding how ecological and evolutionary processes shape biodiversity. Due to an increasing availability of phylogenetic trees, a growing number of process-based methods relying on the birth-death model have been developed in the last decade to address a variety of questions in macroevolution. However, this methodological progress has regularly been criticised such that one may wonder how reliable the estimations of speciation and extinction rates are. In particular, using lineages-through-time (LTT) plots, a recent study (Louca and Pennell, 2020) has shown that there are an infinite number of equally likely diversification scenarios that can generate any timetree. This has lead to questioning whether or not diversification rates should be estimated at all. Here we summarize, clarify, and highlight technical considerations on recent findings regarding the capacity of models to disentangle diversification histories. Using simulations we demonstrate the characteristics of newly-proposed "pulled rates" and their utility. We recognize that the recent findings are a step forward in understanding the behavior of macroevolutionary modelling, but they in no way suggest we should abandon diversification modelling altogether. On the contrary, the study of macroevolution using phylogenetic trees has never been more exciting and promising than today. We still face important limitations in regard to data availability and methodological shortcomings, but by acknowledging them we can better target our joint efforts as a scientific community.

evolutionary biology↗

bioRxiv2019

High sampling effectiveness for non-bee pollinators using vane traps in both open and wooded habitats

O_LINon-bee insects are important for pollination, yet few studies have assessed the effectiveness of sampling these taxa using low cost passive techniques, such as coloured vane traps, among different habitat types. C_LIO_LIThis study sampled 192 sites--108 in wooded and 84 in open habitats within an agricultural region of southern Australia. Pairs of blue and yellow vane traps were placed at each site for a period of seven days during the austral spring. C_LIO_LIOverall, 3114 flies (Diptera) from 19 families and 528 wasps (non-bee and non-formicid Hymenoptera) from 16 families were collected during the study. This sampling was representative of the region, with vane traps equally or more likely to collect as many families from both taxa as those reported on the Atlas of Living Australia (ALA) database for the sampling area. C_LIO_LIBlue vane taps (BVTs) had greater average richness of both flies and wasps and greater abundance of individuals than yellow vane traps (YVTs). BVTs were particularly favoured by certain fly and wasp families known to pollinate flowers (e.g. Syrphidae, Bombyliidae and Scoliidae), whilst YVTs sampled some less common fly families, such as Acroceridae and Bibionidae that also provide additional ecosystem services to pollination. C_LIO_LIVane traps are an effective passive sampling technique for non-bee pollinators, such as flies and wasps. This study supports the use of vane traps as a component of the sampling protocol for ecological census and population monitoring within multiple habitat types, to effectively sample a more complete pollinator community. C_LI

ecology↗