Fossils matter: improved estimates of divergence times in Pinus reveal older diversification.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The taxonomy of pines (genus Pinus) is widely accepted and a robust gene tree based on entire plastome sequences exists. However, there is a large discrepancy in estimated divergence times of major pine clades among existing studies, mainly due to differences in fossil placement and dating methods used. We currently lack a dated molecular phylogeny that makes use of the rich pine fossil record, and this study is the first to estimate the divergence dates of pines based on a large number of fossils (21) evenly distributed across all major clades, in combination with applying both node and tip dating methods.

Results

We present a range of molecular phylogenetic trees of Pinus generated within a Bayesian framework. We find the origin of crown Pinus is likely up to 30

SUBMITTER: Saladin B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5381128 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature