Data from: Competing methods of divergence time estimation recover diverse evolutionary timescales

Sidney Davies; Philip Donoghue; Davide Pisani; Alessia Tasca; Christopher Brochu

doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.33121148

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Data from: Competing methods of divergence time estimation recover diverse evolutionary timescales

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Data from: Competing methods of divergence time estimation recover diverse evolutionary timescales

Sidney Davies, Philip Donoghue, Davide Pisani, Alessia Tasca and Christopher Brochu

figshare

07/30/2026

DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.33121148

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https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.33121148View

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Abstract

Molecular clocks convert evolutionary distances into geological times to infer time-scaled phylogenies. Methods differ in terms of fossil calibration strategy (node versus tip) and whether they use molecular and/or morphological data, but their relative performance remains unclear. Given their well-preserved fossil record, we use Crocodylia to interrogate common approaches to timescale estimation using a combination of calibration strategies and datatypes in MrBayes. We found calibration strategies had a much greater impact than datatype, with node-calibrated timescales producing younger ages than tip calibration. The older ages recovered by tip-calibrated approaches imply an Early Cretaceous origin (ca. 124-111 Ma) of Crocodylia inconsistent with the stratigraphic record, while node calibration produces more credible estimates, including a Late Cretaceous origin (ca. 95-78 Ma). Performing tip calibration with a fossilised birth-death process produced an intermediate timescale, estimating an Early-Late Cretaceous origin (ca. 118-95 Ma). These timescales support materially distinct scenarios for crocodylian evolution. We show these disparities among calibration strategies are driven by differences in the structure of their underlying priors, with tip-calibrated timescales biased towards unrealistically ancient ages. Our results highlight the need for future analyses to explore hybrid calibration strategies that treat node and tip dating as compatible, rather than competing, approaches.

Molecular evolution

Palaeontology (incl. palynology)

Phylogeny and comparative analysis

Details

Title: Subtitle: Data from: Competing methods of divergence time estimation recover diverse evolutionary timescales
Creators: Sidney Davies
Philip Donoghue
Davide Pisani
Alessia Tasca
Christopher Brochu
Resource Type: Dataset
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.33121148
Publisher: figshare
Language: English
Date published: 07/30/2026
Academic Unit: School of Earth, Environment, and Sustainability; University College Courses
Record Identifier: 9985217067002771

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