Arácnido Taxonomy

  Hypothesis-driven biogeography to estimate rates and dates when fossil evidence is scarce: a case study using an ancient, Holarctic genus of spider (Araneae, Antrodiaetidae, Antrodiaetus) Abstract Understanding when lineages diverged is a common inquiry within the field of biogeography and often requires a rate of evolution and a means to calibrate the phylogeny to absolute time. While fossil evidence is the most common means regarding calibration, estimated molecular rates specific to the group in question are not as widespread. Furthermore, geological events can also be employed to calibrate a phylogeny, especially when lineages have a poor fossil record. In this paper, the effectiveness of employing biogeographic hypotheses to overcome a depauperate fossil record is tested in a group of spiders whose evolution is strongly affected by abiotic forces. Using a known biogeographic break, the fit of two competing biogeographic hypotheses (Ancient Vicariance vs. Inland Dispersal) is...