title: Synthesizing and databasing fossil calibrations: divergence dating and beyond.
abstract: Divergence dating studies, which combine temporal data from the fossil record with branch length data from molecular phylogenetic trees, represent a rapidly expanding approach to understanding the history of life. National Evolutionary Synthesis Center hosted the first Fossil Calibrations Working Group (3-6 March, 2011, Durham, NC, USA), bringing together palaeontologists, molecular evolutionists and bioinformatics experts to present perspectives from disciplines that generate, model and use fossil calibration data. Presentations and discussions focused on channels for interdisciplinary collaboration, best practices for justifying, reporting and using fossil calibrations and roadblocks to synthesis of palaeontological and molecular data. Bioinformatics solutions were proposed, with the primary objective being a new database for vetted fossil calibrations with linkages to existing resources, targeted for a 2012 launch.
authors.affiliation: Department of Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA. daniel_ksepka@ncsu.edu
authors.forename: Daniel T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Ksepka
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Benton
authors.forename: Matthew T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Carrano
authors.forename: Maria A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Gandolfo
authors.forename: Jason J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Head
authors.forename: Elizabeth J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Hermsen
authors.forename: Walter G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Joyce
authors.forename: Kristin S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Lamm
authors.forename: José S L
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Patané
authors.forename: Matthew J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.forename: P David
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Polly
authors.forename: Marcel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Van Tuinen
authors.forename: Jessica L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Ware
authors.forename: Rachel C M
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Warnock
authors.forename: James F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Parham
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D002138:Calibration; D019295:Computational Biology / Q000379:methods; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005580:Fossils; D049810:Genetic Speciation; D007313:Insecta / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D009657:North Carolina; D010163:Paleontology / Q000379:methods; D010802:Phylogeny; D010944:Plants / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D011309:Preservation, Biological; D014714:Vertebrates / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics