Data from: Reviewing the Great American Biotic Interchange: Climate change as a trigger for biodiversity dispersal

The Great American Biotic Interchange (GABI), during which an intense
biodiversity interchange occurred between South and North America,
strongly affected the biodiversity of the Americas. Despite its
importance, there are still knowledge gaps regarding the factors
triggering species dispersion, the taxonomic groups that first dispersed,
the age at which dispersions began and intensified, and whether there was
a main dispersal direction through the continent (from North to South
America or vice versa). To fill these gaps, we conducted a scientific
literature review of GABI, searching for studies with information
regarding dispersal age, taxonomic groups (invertebrates, amphibians,
non-avian reptiles, birds, mammals, and plants), dispersion direction
(toward South or North America), and the type of data used as the source
of evidence (fossil, molecular, or living species). We also investigate
the effect of the climatic dynamic on the biodiversity dispersal through
the relationships between oxygen-isotope levels (δ 18O, as a proxy of past
temperatures) and the number and geological age of dispersal records. Only
41.8% (87 publications) of the studies included information on
biodiversity dispersion during the GABI. We found evidence of the GABI
starting at 23 million years ago (Ma) and becoming a continuous process
from approximately 15 Ma. Cooling periods after the Miocene Climate
Optimum (MCO) favoured continuous dispersals, which have since
intensified. Studies based on molecular data recovered more closely
related to the intermediate ages of dispersal records. In addition, birds,
plants, and mammals were displaced first, whereas amphibians were
displaced last.