Abstract.
The Yule model is a frequently-used evolutionary model that can be utilized to generate random genealogical trees. Under this model, using a backwards counting method differing from the approach previously employed by Heard (Evolution 46: 1818–1826), for a genealogical tree of n lineages, the mean number of nodes with exactly r descendants is computed (2 ≤ r ≤ n − 1). The variance of the number of r-pronged nodes is also obtained, as are the mean and variance of the number of r-caterpillars. These results generalize computations of McKenzie and Steel for the case of r = 2 (Math. Biosci. 164: 81–92, 2000). For a given n, the two means are largest at r = 2, equaling 2n/3 for n ≥ 5. However, for n ≥ 9, the variances are largest at r = 3, equaling 23n/420 for n ≥ 7. As n→∞, the fraction of internal nodes that are r-caterpillars for some r approaches (e2 − 5)/4≈ 0.59726.
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Received August 23, 2004
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Rosenberg, N.A. The Mean and Variance of the Numbers of r-Pronged Nodes and r-Caterpillars in Yule-Generated Genealogical Trees. Ann. Comb. 10, 129–146 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00026-006-0278-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00026-006-0278-6