The $B_2$ index of galled trees

TL;DR

This paper investigates the $B_2$ balance index for galled trees, showing its distribution converges for large networks and providing detailed analysis using two independent methods, which is novel in phylogenetic network research.

Contribution

It is the first detailed study of the $B_2$ index for random galled trees, characterizing its limiting distribution and expected value using analytic combinatorics and local limits.

Findings

The $B_2$ index converges in distribution for large galled trees.

The limiting distribution of the $B_2$ index is characterized.

The expected $B_2$ index value is approximately 2.708.

Abstract

In recent years, there has been an effort to extend the classical notion of phylogenetic balance, originally defined in the context of trees, to networks. One of the most natural ways to do this is with the so-called $B_2$ index. In this paper, we study the $B_2$ index for a prominent class of phylogenetic networks: galled trees. We show that the $B_2$ index of a uniform leaf-labeled galled tree converges in distribution as the network becomes large. We characterize the corresponding limiting distribution, and show that its expected value is 2.707911858984... This is the first time that a balance index has been studied to this level of detail for a random phylogenetic network. One specificity of this work is that we use two different and independent approaches, each with its advantages: analytic combinatorics, and local limits. The analytic combinatorics approach is more direct, as it relies on standard tools; but it involves slightly more complex calculations. Because it has not previously been used to study such questions, the local limit approach requires developing an extensive framework beforehand; however, this framework is interesting in itself and can be used to tackle other similar problems.