Evolution of multiple colour mechanisms enhances opportunities for diversification in sunbirds (Nectariniidae)

How and why certain groups become speciose is a key question in evolutionary biology. Novel traits that enable diversification by opening new ecological niches are likely important mechanisms. However, ornamental traits can also promote diversification by opening up novel sensory niches and thereby creating novel inter-specific interactions. More specifically, ornamental colours may enable more precise and/or easier species recognition, and may act as key innovations by increasing the number of species-specific patterns and promoting diversification. While the influence of colouration on diversification is well-studied, the influence of the mechanisms that produce those colours (e.g. pigmentary, nanostructural) is less so, even though the ontogeny and evolution of these mechanisms differ. We estimated a new phylogenetic tree for 121 sunbird species and combined colour data of 106 species with a range of phylogenetic tools to test the hypothesis that the evolution of novel colour mechani..., , , # Evolution of multiple colour mechanisms enhances opportunities for diversification in sunbirds (Nectariniidae)

## Data

This repository contains 4 supplementary tables. Throughout the files and scripts,are shown by \"?\" or NA. This can be because there are no values, or in the case of specimen data, missing values (either not readable or erroneously not noted).

Supplementary data 1 contains all specimens investigated. Data shown (i.e. columns) are: Collection where measured, Label used for processing, Genus name, Species (and subspecies name), sex, Genus+species name (without subspecies), specimen number (i.e. label number).

Supplementary data 2 shows the how we classified colour mechanisms for both sexes using two methods: 1) reflectance measurements (plots). Within the excel file this is shown in the first two sheets (for male and female). 2) by visually looking at photos (photos). These are shown in the latter two sheets (for male and female). In each sheet we score for eac...