Clades and clans: a comparison study of two evolutionary models (Q2346896)

This paper addresses the distributions of clade size in a random tree generated under the two null models, namely, the Yule-Harding-Kingman (YHK) model and proportional to distinguishable arrangements (PDA) model. Clade probabilities under the two models are derived. In particular, it is shown that the distributions are log-convex, and there exists a critical value \(\kappa(n)\), where the probability that a given clade with size \(k\) is contained in a random tree with \(n\) leaves generated by the YHK model is higher than that created by the PDA model if \(1<k<\kappa(n)\), and lower if \(\kappa(n)<k<n\). A comparison study on clans, the counterpart of clades for unrooted trees, is also performed.