Bayesian Phylogeography Finds Its Roots

As a key factor in endemic and epidemic dynamics, the geographical distribution of viruses has been frequently interpreted in the light of their genetic histories. Unfortunately, inference of historical dispersal or migration patterns of viruses has mainly been restricted to model-free heuristic approaches that provide little insight into the temporal setting of the spatial dynamics. The introduction of probabilistic models of evolution, however, offers unique opportunities to engage in this statistical endeavor. Here we introduce a Bayesian framework for inference, visualization and hypothesis testing of phylogeographic history. By implementing character mapping in a Bayesian software that samples time-scaled…

• IN
  Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences
• RS
  Royal Society
• FW
  Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek
• VR
  Vlaamse regering
• NI
  National Institutes of Health

  Awards: GM086887, NIH R01
• MF
  Marsden Fund
• DO
  Division of Mathematical Sciences