Two metrics for general phylogenetic networks

TL;DR

This paper proves that Nakhleh's dissimilarity measure can distinguish phylogenetic networks and, with a slight modification, becomes a true metric for all such networks.

Contribution

It demonstrates the separating power of Nakhleh's measure and introduces a modified version that functions as a true distance metric.

Findings

Nakhleh's measure separates distinguishable networks

A modified measure provides a true metric

The results apply to all phylogenetic networks

Abstract

We prove that Nakhleh's latest dissimilarity measure for phylogenetic networks separates distinguishable phylogenetic networks, and that a slight modification of it provides a true distance on the class of all phylogenetic networks.