Data from: Biological evidence supports an early and complex emergence of the Isthmus of Panama

The formation of the Isthmus of Panama, which linked North and South
America, is key to understanding the biodiversity, oceanography,
atmosphere, and climate in the region. Despite its importance across
multiple disciplines, the timing of formation and emergence of the Isthmus
and the biological patterns it created have been controversial. Here, we
analyze molecular and fossil data, including terrestrial and marine
organisms, to show that biotic migrations across the Isthmus of Panama
began several million years earlier than commonly assumed. An earlier
evolution of the Isthmus has broad implications for the mechanisms driving
global climate (e.g., Pleistocene glaciations, thermohaline circulation)
as well as the rich biodiversity of the Americas.