Data from: Evolution across the adaptive landscape in a hyperdiverse beetle radiation

The extraordinary diversification of beetles on Earth is a textbook
example of adaptive evolution. Yet the tempo and drivers of this
super-radiation remain largely unclear. Here, we address this problem by
investigating the macroevolutionary dynamics in darkling beetles
(Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), one of the most ecomorphologically diverse
beetle families (with >30k species). Using genomic datasets and
multiple approaches, we resolve the long-standing inconsistency over deep
relationships in the family. In conjunction with a landmark-based dataset
of body shape morphology, we show that the evolutionary history of
darkling beetles is marked by ancient rapid radiations, frequent
ecological transitions, and rapid bursts of morphological diversification.
On a global scale, our analyses uncovered a significant pulse of
phenotypic diversification proximal to the K/Pg mass extinction and
remarkable convergence of body shape associated with ecological
specialization. On a regional scale, two major Australasian radiations,
the Adeliini and the heleine clade, exhibited contrasting patterns of
ecomorphological diversification, representing a clear contrast of
phylogenetic niche conservatism versus adaptive radiation. Our findings
align with the Simpsonian model of adaptive evolution across the
macroevolutionary landscape and highlight a significant role of ecological
opportunity in driving the immense ecomorphological diversity in a
hyperdiverse beetle group.