Fig. 1: Diversification and diversity dynamics of Late Cretaceous dinosaurs. | Nature Communications

Fig. 1: Diversification and diversity dynamics of Late Cretaceous dinosaurs.

From: Dinosaur biodiversity declined well before the asteroid impact, influenced by ecological and environmental pressures

Fig. 1

The Bayesian estimates of speciation (blue), extinction (red), net diversification (black, speciation minus extinction) rates, and diversity of all six non-avian dinosaur families (a–c), of the herbivorous families (d–f), and of the carnivorous families (g–i). Solid lines indicate mean posterior rates and shaded areas show 95% CI. Net diversification decreased ~83 Myrs ago (mid-Campanian), and became negative ~76 Myrs ago (late Campanian). The diversities (numbers of species) of all dinosaur families, herbivorous families, and carnivorous families were in decline starting in the mid-late Campanian (~76 Myrs ago) or at the Campanian–Maastrichtian transition for carnivores (~72 Myrs ago). Reconstructions of diversity trajectories are replicated to incorporate uncertainties around the age of the fossil occurrences. Apt Aptian, Alb Albian, Cen Cenomanian, Tur Turonian, Con Coniacian, Sant Santonian, Cam Campanian, Maa Maastrichtian, Dan Danian, Pg Paleogene, and K/Pg Cretaceous–Palaeogene mass extinction (66 Myrs ago). Dinosaur pictures courtesy of Fred Wierum (© Wikimedia Commons), Debivort (© Wikimedia Commons), and Jack Mayer Wood (© Wikimedia Commons): https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/. Asteroid icon made by Fabien Condamine.

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