INSECT PHYLOGENOMICS. Response to Comment on "Phylogenomics resolves the timing and pattern of insect evolution"

Area of Science:

• Evolutionary biology
• Paleontology
• Phylogenetics

Background:

• Phylogenetic analyses are crucial for understanding evolutionary relationships.
• Accurate dating of evolutionary divergences is essential for robust phylogenetic inference.
• Previous insect phylogeny studies have utilized various dating methodologies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address comments and a reanalysis of insect phylogeny data presented by Tong et al.
• To evaluate the impact of alternative prior choices and calibration points on phylogenetic dating.
• To reaffirm the appropriateness of the original analytical methods and conclusions.

Main Methods:

• The study involves a critical review of a proposed reanalysis of insect phylogenetic data.
• Comparison of log-normal priors versus uniform priors in Bayesian phylogenetic inference.
• Assessment of the influence of incorporating additional fossil calibration points, specifically a "roachoid" fossil.

Main Results:

• The reanalysis by Tong et al. offers an alternative perspective on insect phylogeny dating.
• The original study's choice of log-normal priors is defended as appropriate for the dataset.
• The inclusion of the "roachoid" fossil as a calibration point is considered within the context of the reanalysis.

Conclusions:

• The original analytical choices for insect phylogeny dating were scientifically sound.
• While alternative viewpoints exist, they do not invalidate the initial findings.
• Further discussion on methodological choices in phylogenetic dating is warranted.