Reconstructing Divergence Times for Supertrees

Abstract

Here, we present a formal approach to estimating divergence dates derived from aligned DNA sequence data on MRP supertrees, using a new supertree for the Primates as a case study. We selected 40 sequence data sets that conform under various models of sequence evolution to the molecular clock. Each of these data sets covers only a subset of the taxa on the supertree, and so composite date estimates were obtained by calibrating the data sets on common nodes and subsequently combining the estimates from different genes for the same node. The internal consistency of our estimates is high. The estimates presented here also fit well with those from Purvis’ 1995 primate supertree, although estimates for deeper splits are progressively older.