text: Phylogenetic comparative methods are a suite of statistical approaches that enable biologists to analyze and better understand the evolutionary tree of life and shed vital new light on patterns of divergence and common ancestry among all species on Earth. Phylogenetic Comparative Methods in R shows how to carry out phylogenetic comparative analyses in the R statistical computing environment. Liam Revell and Luke Harmon provide an incisive conceptual overview of each method along with worked examples using real data and challenging problems that encourage students to learn by doing. By working through this book, students will gain a solid foundation in these methods and develop the skills they need to interpret patterns in the tree of life.
  Liam J. Revell is an associate professor of biology at the University of Massachusetts, Boston, and an adjunct researcher at the Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción in Chile.
  Luke J. Harmon is a professor of biological sciences at the University of Idaho and the author of Phylogenetic Comparative Methods: Learning from Trees.
  "Revell and Harmon have played a leading role not only in developing new phylogenetic and comparative methods but in providing the means for us mere mortals to use them. This book is a must-have for anyone working in comparative biology."
  – Jonathan B. Losos, editor in chief of The Princeton Guide to Evolution
  "Revell and Harmon provide effective tutorials on key phylogenetic comparative methods in R, and the skills users will develop from working through this book are highly transferable to a vast range of other techniques in the biological sciences. The field of phylogenetic comparative biology is fast-moving and there is a need for a practical handbook such as this."
  – Sally Street, Durham University
  "This comprehensive guide to comparative methods in R will surely be a resource for any newcomer to using phylogenies. The range of sample data sets is exceptional and gives readers the ability to interpret results from different perspectives. Revell and Harmon's book is an excellent resource for any graduate student interested in delving into comparative methods for their thesis work."
  – Jeremy Beaulieu, University of Arkansas