Additional File 1:

Estimates of node ages and node support (branch lengths.xls) Node numbers correspond to figures 2-9. Five types of estimate were used: a) absolute dates from the fossil record; b) absolute dates from molecular point estimates; c) relative dates based on branch length estimates from molecular studies; d) estimates based on a pure birth model (see text for details); and e) even spacing of nodes along branches with daughters and ancestors of known age. The numbers of characters supporting each node are provided (column D), this is equivalent to the number of source trees that share the equivalent node (see text for details).

Format: XLS Size: 33KB Download file

This file can be viewed with: Microsoft Excel Viewer

Additional File 2:

Shorebird supertree (50% majority-rule consensus; majrulesupertree.tiff) Shorebird supertree based on 50% majority-rule consensus of 1496 shortest trees with calibrated branch lengths. Scale bar indicates time from the present in millions of years.

Format: TIFF Size: 313KB Download file

Additional File 3:

Shorebird supertree (strict consensus; strictsupertree.tif) Shorebird supertree based on 50% majority-rule consensus of 1496 shortest trees.

Format: TIFF Size: 305KB Download file

Additional File 5:

Source trees (source trees.xls) A summary of each tree used is given including the data type and main taxa studied. This is a brief summary and the original papers should be consulted for full details.

Format: XLS Size: 15KB Download file

This file can be viewed with: Microsoft Excel Viewer

Additional File 6:

MRP matrix (shorebirdMRP.txt) The MRP matrix used in the shorebird supertree analysis.

Format: TXT Size: 409KB Download file

Additional File 4:

Calibrated supertree (shorebirdsupertree.txt) The supertree in nexus format including branch length estimates.

Format: TXT Size: 24KB Download file