Data from: Into the light: diurnality has evolved multiple times in geckos

Geckos are the only major lizard group consisting mostly of nocturnal species. Nocturnality is presumed to have evolved early in gecko evolution and geckos possess numerous adaptations to functioning in low light and at low temperatures. However, not all gecko species are nocturnal and most diurnal geckos have their own distinct adaptations to living in warmer, sunlit environments. We reconstructed the evolution of gecko activity patterns using a newly generated time-calibrated phylogeny. Our results provide the first phylogenetic analysis of temporal activity patterns in geckos and confirm an ancient origin of nocturnality at the root of the gecko tree. We identify multiple transitions to diurnality at a variety of evolutionary time scales and transitions back to nocturnality occur in several predominantly diurnal clades. The scenario presented here will be useful in reinterpreting existing hypotheses of how geckos have adapted to varying thermal and light environments. These results can also inform future research of gecko ecology, physiology, morphology and vision as it relates to changes in temporal activity patterns.壁虎是唯一以夜行性物种为主体的大型蜥蜴类群。学界普遍认为，夜行性在壁虎演化早期便已起源，且壁虎拥有诸多适配低光照与低温环境的适应性特征。但并非所有壁虎物种均为夜行性，多数昼行性壁虎也演化出了适配温暖日照环境的独特适应性特征。本研究借助全新构建的时间校准系统发育树（time-calibrated phylogeny），重建了壁虎活动模式的演化历程。本研究结果首次针对壁虎的昼夜活动模式开展了系统发育分析，并证实夜行性起源于壁虎类群基部的古老演化节点。研究发现，在多个不同的演化时间尺度上，均发生了多次向昼行性的演化转变；同时在数个以昼行性为主的演化支（clades）中，也出现了重回夜行性的演化事件。本研究提出的演化场景，将有助于重新解读现有关于壁虎如何适应不同温度与光照环境的假说。上述研究结果还可为未来壁虎生态学、生理学、形态学以及与昼夜活动模式变化相关的视觉研究提供参考。