Data from: Congruent phylogenetic and fossil signatures of mammalian diversification dynamics driven by tertiary abiotic change

Computational methods for estimating diversification rates from extant species phylogenetic trees have become abundant in evolutionary research. However, little evidence exists about how their outcome compares to a complementary and direct source of information: the fossil record. Furthermore, there is virtually no direct test for the congruence of evolutionary rates based on these two sources. This task is only achievable in clades with both a well-known fossil record and a complete phylogenetic tree. Here, we compare the evolutionary rates of ruminant mammals as estimated from their vast paleontological record —over 1200 species spanning 50 myr— and their living-species phylogeny. Significantly, our results revealed that the ruminant's fossil record and phylogeny reflect congruent evolutionary processes. The concordance is especially strong for the last 25 myr, when living groups became a dominant part of ruminant diversity. We found empirical support for previous hypotheses based on simulations and neontological data: the pattern captured by the tree depends on how clade-specific the processes are and which clades are involved. Also, we report fossil-evidence for a post-radiation speciation slowdown coupled with constant, moderate extinction in the Miocene. The recent deceleration in phylogenetic rates is connected to rapid extinction triggered by recent climatic fluctuations.

从现生物种（extant species）的系统发育树（phylogenetic tree）中估算分化速率（diversification rates）的计算方法，在演化生物学研究中已日渐丰富。然而，针对这类方法的结果与互补且直接的信息来源——化石记录（fossil record）之间的对比，相关实证证据仍较为匮乏。此外，几乎未有研究直接检验基于这两类信息源的演化速率一致性（congruence）。此类检验仅能在同时拥有详尽化石记录与完整系统发育树的演化支（clade）中开展。本研究针对反刍类哺乳动物（ruminant mammals）展开分析，分别基于其覆盖50百万年（myr）、包含1200余种物种的海量古生物记录（paleontological record），以及现生物种系统发育树，对二者的演化速率进行对比。值得注意的是，本研究结果显示，反刍类的化石记录与系统发育树所反映的演化过程具有一致性。在最近的25百万年里，当现生类群成为反刍类多样性的主导组成部分时，这种一致性表现得尤为显著。我们的研究为既往基于模拟实验与现生生物数据（neontological data）提出的假说提供了实证支持：系统发育树所捕捉的演化模式，取决于过程的演化支特异性以及所涉及的演化支类别。此外，我们基于化石证据发现，在中新世（Miocene）时期，反刍类经历了辐射演化后的物种形成速率放缓，同时伴随持续且中等强度的灭绝事件。近期系统发育速率的减缓，则与近期气候波动（climatic fluctuations）引发的快速灭绝事件存在关联。