Host shift and cospeciation rate estimation from co-phylogenies

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:2017
Authors:N. Alcala, Jenkins, T., Christe, P., Vuilleumier, S.
Secondary Authors:T. Coulson
Journal:Ecology Letters
Volume:20
Issue:8
Pagination:1014 - 1024
Date Published:Jan-08-2017
Keywords:Approximate Bayesian Computation, birds, co-evolution, cospeciation, Diversification, emerging diseases, host switch, malaria, parasite.
Abstract:

Host shifts can cause novel infectious diseases, and is a key process in diversification. Disentan- gling the effects of host shift vs. those of cospeciation is non-trivial as both can result in phylo- genic congruence. We develop a new framework based on network analysis and Approximate Bayesian Computation to quantify host shift and cospeciation rates in host-parasite systems. Our method enables estimation of the expected time to the next host shift or cospeciation event. We then apply it to avian haemosporidian parasite systems and to the pocket gophers-chewing lice system, and demonstrate that both host shift and cospeciation can be reliably estimated by our method. We confirm that host shifts have shaped the evolutionary history of avian haemosporid- ian parasites and have played a minor role in the gopher–chewing lice system. Our method is promising for predicting the rate of potential host shifts and thus the emergence of novel infec- tious diseases.

URL:http://doi.wiley.com/10.1111/ele.2017.20.issue-8
DOI:10.1111/ele.12799
Short Title:Ecol Lett
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