[Taxacom] Interesting use of terms

[Stephen Thorpe]

> a priori information regarding group membership is available, for example that 
>samples are drawn from some number of described subspecies, races or distinct 
>morphotypes


interesting use of 'a priori', probably they just thought it was a fancy term 
for 'prior'!!

S


________________________________
From: Bob Mesibov <mesibov at southcom.com.au>
To: TAXACOM <taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu>
Sent: Wed, 22 June, 2011 6:50:33 PM
Subject: [Taxacom] Interesting use of terms

Molecular Ecology Resources (2011) 11, 473–480

SpedeSTEM: a rapid and accurate method for species delimitation
DANIEL D. ENCE and BRYAN C . CARSTENS
Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, 202 Life Sciences 
Building, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA

Abstract
We describe a software package (SpedeSTEM) that allows researchers to conduct a 
species delimitation analysis using intraspecific genetic data. Our method 
operates under the assumption that a priori information regarding group 
membership is available, for example that samples are drawn from some number of 
described subspecies, races or distinct morphotypes. SpedeSTEM proceeds by 
calculating the maximum likelihood species tree from all hierarchical 
arrangements of the sampled alleles and uses information theory to quantify the 
model probability of each permutation. SpedeSTEM is tested here against 
empirical and simulated data; results indicate that evolutionary lineages that 
diverged as few as 0.5N generations in the past can be validated as distinct 
using sequence data from little as five loci. This work enables speciation 
investigations to identify lineages that are evolutionarily distinct and thus 
have the potential to form new species before these lineages acquire secondary 
characteristics such as reproductive isolation or morphological differentiation 
that are commonly used to define species.

[In the original, the word 'before' in 'form new species before these lineages' 
is in italics. Do you judge the 'accurate' bit in the title by waiting to see if 
the subspecies, races or morphotypes turn into species after, say, 10000 years?]
-- 
Dr Robert Mesibov
Honorary Research Associate
Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, and
School of Zoology, University of Tasmania
Home contact: PO Box 101, Penguin, Tasmania, Australia 7316
Ph: (03) 64371195; 61 3 64371195
Webpage: http://www.qvmag.tas.gov.au/?articleID=570

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