Data from: Comparative analysis reveals that polyploidy does not decelerate diversification in fish

Using likelihood-based evolutionary methodologies, we co-estimate speciation and extinction rates associated with polyploid vs. diploid fish lineages. Family-level analysis of Acipenseridae and Botiidae revealed no significant difference in diversification rates between polyploid and diploid relatives, while analysis of the subfamily Cyprininae revealed higher polyploid diversification. Additionally, order-level analysis of the polyploid Salmoniformes and its diploid sister clade, the Esociformes, did not support a significantly different net diversification rate between the two groups.

Taken together, our results suggest that polyploidy is generally not associated with decreased diversification in fish – a pattern that stands in contrast to that previously observed in plants. While there are notable differences in the time frame examined in the two studies, our results suggest that polyploidy is associated with different diversification patterns in these two major branches of the eukaryote tree of life.

Usage notes fish_polyploidy Phylogenetic and ploidy level data of 4 fish groups examined: Acipenseridae, Botiidae, Cyprininae, and Salmoniformes.