THE PHENOTYPIC EVOLUTION TIME SERIES (PETS) DATABASE: FACILITATING RESEARCH ON PHENOTYPIC CHANGE WITHIN LINEAGES

Evolutionary time series found in the fossil record are invaluable sources of information on evolutionary dynamics within lineages, on timescales that are often overlooked in evolutionary biology. Although these data have contributed significantly to our understanding of evolution across various timescales, there remains a relative lack of research on evolutionary dynamics within lineages compared to the study of differences among taxa.

To encourage further investigations into phenotypic change within lineages, we have developed The Phenotypic Evolution Time Series (PETS) database, a publicly accessible repository containing data on phenotypic changes in ancestor-descendant populations. The PETS database provides researchers with an interactive web application offering easy and open access to a comprehensive collection of time-series data, complemented with vetted metadata. The user-friendly interface allows data filtering based on a variety of options. Researchers can conveniently download data in various formats, including R objects, which can be directly analyzed using statistical tools tailored to study evolutionary trait dynamics within lineages. Users can also contribute to the growth of PETS, by submitting evolutionary time series that are not yet part of the database.

By offering a centralized and user-friendly platform, we hope the PETS database can act as a leading repository for data on phenotypic change within lineages and facilitate and encourage research on this type of data from the fossil record.