A major shift in diversification rate helps explain macroevolutionary patterns in primate species diversity.

Area of Science:

• Evolutionary Biology
• Mammalogy
• Primate Ecology

Background:

• Primates are a highly diverse mammalian clade with a wide distribution.
• The macroevolutionary drivers of primate diversification and species distribution are debated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the influence of clade age and evolutionary rate heterogeneity on primate species diversity.
• To understand the factors shaping the modern distribution of primate species.

Main Methods:

• Phylogenetic comparative methods were utilized.
• Analysis focused on clade age, evolutionary rates, and species richness.

Main Results:

• Primate diversification accelerated over time, with reduced extinction rates.
• The family Cercopithecidae exhibits particularly high evolutionary rates.
• Older primate clades are generally more diverse, but rate shifts are crucial for explaining diversity imbalances.
• Geographic distribution alone poorly explains species richness when evolutionary factors are considered.

Conclusions:

• Heterogeneity in evolutionary rates is a primary factor influencing the global distribution of primate species diversity.
• Ecological factors may play a role in species richness, particularly when evolutionary dynamics are accounted for.