Data from: Loss of avian phylogenetic diversity in neotropical agricultural systems

Habitat conversion is the primary driver of biodiversity loss, yet little
is known about how it is restructuring the tree of life by favoring some
lineages over others. We combined a complete avian phylogeny with 12 years
of Costa Rican bird surveys (118,127 detections across 487 species)
sampled in three land uses: forest reserves, diversified agricultural
systems, and intensive monocultures. Diversified agricultural systems
supported 600 million more years of evolutionary history than intensive
monocultures but 300 million fewer years than forests. Compared with
species with many extant relatives, evolutionarily distinct species were
extirpated at higher rates in both diversified and intensive agricultural
systems. Forests are therefore essential for maintaining diversity across
the tree of life, but diversified agricultural systems may help buffer
against extreme loss of phylogenetic diversity.