Historical biogeography increasingly depends on probabilistic phylogenetic models to reconstruct where ancestral species once lived. Standard approaches, however, rely almost solely on information about the present to reconstruct the past. More complex phylogenetic models that integrate paleogeographical, paleoenvironmental, and paleontological data promise to improve historical evolutionary inferences.

Timing is crucial to the nervous system; the ability to rapidly detect and process subtle disturbances in the environment determines whether an animal can attain its next meal or successfully navigate complex, unpredictable terrain.