Emerging patterns in the comparative analysis of phylogenetic community structure

The analysis of the phylogenetic structure of communities can help reveal contemporary ecological interactions, as well as link community ecology with biogeography and the study of character evolution. The number of studies employing this broad approach has increased to the point where comparison of their results can now be used to highlight successes and deficiencies in the approach, and to detect emerging patterns in community organization. We review studies of the phylogenetic structure of communities of different major taxa and trophic levels, across different spatial and phylogenetic scales, and using different metrics and null models. Twenty-three of 39 studies (59%) find evidence for phylogenetic…

• NS
  National Science Foundation

  Awards: 0212873, 0408432
• HU
  Harvard University
• AA
  Arnold Arboretum
• NS
  Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada