The simulations presented in the previous two chapters have covered the generation and evolution of character diversity for both species and interbreeding groups, spread across up to four continents, and able to migrate in controlled ways. The simulation employs two specific techniques of phylogenetic reconstruction: one a method based on the morphological characters of current species and fossils, and the other a distance method based on the characters of the current species only. Particular emphasis was placed on the way in which the current species and fossils are employed by these reconstruction methods, and on the impact on their accuracy of both a sparse fossil record and the complex interplay between hereditary and non-hereditary effects on morphological characters.

Although the simulation is able to model evolution quite generally, in most cases constraints were placed on the evolution in order to more closely model important aspects of hominoid evolution. An overview of the results follows, with discussion of some specific implications, and finally future work and possible enhancements to the simulation are presented. In all cases where average results are discussed, the averages are over 1000 independent simulations.

Single-continent summary

The single-continent simulations presented covered species profiles with a recent minimum of species, subspecies profiles with a recent maximum of subspecies, as well as provided detailed analysis of the influence of fossilisation rates and non-hereditary characters.