Implementing variable evol rate for count data

[Inti Pedroso]

Hi,
Thanks for developing such a great package.
I am interested in modelling count data on a phylogenetic tree. My
main interest if to identify multiple evolutionary rates on the tree.
Current method to do it do not allow for count data but it is
certainly possible to with the right likelihood function, e.g.,
poisson or negative-binomial. I wanted to know if you have any idea
how I could get started in doing this with BEAGLE. I have not found
munch information on how to start coding with this library, which I
could do from python (or in C if necessary).
Basically want I want to do is: fit a model for count data,e.g.,
poisson or negative-binomial, be able to specify groups of nodes where
to fit different evolutionary rates, do something like a RJMCMC to
explore the model space and summaries the results using model
averaging. I have the feeling that several of this step overlap with
things that BEAST does already but I do not think it does for count
data.

Any help to get started (or to let me know that it is not possible
with this library) is more than welcomed.
Thanks in advance for your help.
Best Regards,
Inti Pedroso