Data from: Reef fish functional traits evolve fastest at trophic extremes

Trophic ecology is thought to exert a profound influence on biodiversity,
but the specifics of the process are rarely examined at large spatial and
evolutionary scales. We investigate how trophic position and diet breadth
influence functional trait evolution in one of the most species-rich and
complex vertebrate assemblages, coral reef fishes, within a large-scale
phylogenetic framework. We show that, in contrast with established theory,
functional traits evolve fastest in trophic specialists with narrow diet
breadths at both very low and high trophic positions. Top trophic level
specialists exhibit the most functional diversity, while omnivorous taxa
with intermediate trophic positions and wide diet breadth have the least
functional diversity. Our results reveal the importance of trophic
position in shaping evolutionary dynamics while simultaneously
highlighting the incredible trophic and functional diversity present in
coral reef fish assemblages.