plot_contMap: Plot continuous trait evolution on the tree

In deepSTRAPP: Test for Differences in Diversification Rates over Time

Plot continuous trait evolution on the tree

Description

Plot on a time-calibrated phylogeny the evolution of a continuous trait as summarized in a contMap object typically generated with prepare_trait_data().

This function is a wrapper of original functions from the R package {phytools}:

• Step 1: Use phytools::setMap() to update the color scale if requested.

• Step 2: Use phytools::plot.contMap() to plot the mapped phylogeny.

Usage

plot_contMap(
  contMap,
  color_scale = NULL,
  ...,
  display_plot = TRUE,
  PDF_file_path = NULL
)

Arguments

contMap	List of class "contMap", typically generated with prepare_trait_data(), that contains a phylogenetic tree and associated posterior probability of being in a given state/range along branches. Each object (i.e., densityMap) corresponds to a state/range. If no color is provided for multi-area ranges, they will be interpolated.
color_scale	Vector of character string. List of colors to use to build the color scale with grDevices::colorRampPalette() showing the evolution of a continuous trait. From lowest values to highest values.
...	Additional arguments to pass down to phytools::plot.contMap() to control plotting.
display_plot	Logical. Whether to display the plot generated in the R console. Default is TRUE.
PDF_file_path	Character string. If provided, the plot will be saved in a PDF file following the path provided here. The path must end with ".pdf".

Details

This function is a wrapper of original functions phytools::setMap() and phytools::plot.contMap(). Additions are listed below:

• The color scale can be controlled directly with the argument color_scale.

• The plot can be exported in PDF using PDF_file_path to define the output file.

Value

If display_plot = TRUE, the function plots the time-calibrated phylogeny displaying the evolution of a continuous trait. If PDF_file_path is provided, the function exports the plot into a PDF file.

An object of class "contMap" with an (optionally) updated color scale (⁠$cols⁠) is returned invisibly.

Author(s)

Maël Doré

Original functions by Liam Revell in R package {phytools}. Contact: [e-mail]

See Also

phytools::plot.contMap() plot_densityMaps_overlay()

Examples

# Load phylogeny
data(Ponerinae_trait_tip_data, package = "deepSTRAPP")
# Load trait df
data(Ponerinae_tree, package = "deepSTRAPP")

## Prepare trait data

 # (May take several minutes to run)
# Extract continuous trait data as a named vector
Ponerinae_cont_tip_data <- setNames(object = Ponerinae_trait_tip_data$fake_cont_tip_data,
                                    nm = Ponerinae_trait_tip_data$Taxa)

# Get Ancestral Character Estimates based on a Brownian Motion model
# To obtain values at internal nodes
Ponerinae_ACE <- phytools::fastAnc(tree = Ponerinae_tree, x = Ponerinae_cont_tip_data)

# Infer Ancestral Character Estimates based on a Brownian Motion model
# and run a Stochastic Mapping to interpolate values along branches and obtain a "contMap" object
Ponerinae_contMap <- phytools::contMap(Ponerinae_tree, x = Ponerinae_cont_tip_data,
                                       res = 100, # Number of time steps
                                       plot = FALSE)

# Plot contMap with the phytools method
plot(x = Ponerinae_contMap, fsize = c(0.5, 1))

# Plot contMap with an updated color scale
plot_contMap(contMap = Ponerinae_contMap, fsize = c(0.5, 1),
             color_scale = c("darkgreen", "limegreen", "orange", "red"))
             # PDF_file_path = "Ponerinae_contMap.pdf") 

deepSTRAPP documentation built on Jan. 20, 2026, 1:06 a.m.