Center for Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403-5289, USA.
Mol Ecol. 2011 Jun;20(12):2471–6. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-294X.2011.05133.x.
Many traits are assumed to have a causal (necessary) relationship with one another because of their common covariation with a physiological, ecological or geographical factor. Herein, we demonstrate a straightforward test for inferring causality using residuals from regression of the traits with the common factor. We illustrate this test using the covariation with latitude of a proxy for the circadian clock and a proxy for the photoperiodic timer in Drosophila and salmon. A negative result of this test means that further discussion of the adaptive significance of a causal connection between the covarying traits is unwarranted. A positive result of this test provides a point of departure that can then be used as a platform from which to determine experimentally the underlying functional connections and only then to discuss their adaptive significance.
许多特征被认为彼此之间存在因果(必要)关系,因为它们与生理、生态或地理因素共同变化。在此,我们使用从与共同因素进行回归的特征中得出的残差来演示一种推断因果关系的简单测试。我们使用果蝇和三文鱼中生物钟的替代物与光周期计时器的替代物与纬度的相关性来举例说明该测试。如果该测试的结果为否定,则意味着进一步讨论相关特征之间因果关系的适应性意义是没有根据的。如果该测试的结果为肯定,则为一个起点,然后可以从中进行实验来确定潜在的功能联系,只有在确定了潜在的功能联系之后,才能讨论其适应性意义。