• 责任者：Yang Qun (Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology ; Chinese Academy of Sciences ; Nanjing 210008 ; China) ; Cong Peiyun
• 刊名：Acta Palaeontologica Sinica
• 出版年：2009
• 卷期：48(3)
• 关键词：古生物学 ; paleontology
• 页码：p.364-374
• 图表：4 illus., 1 table, 67 refs.
• 分类号：1100
• issnNo：ISSN0001-6616
• isbnNo：CN32-1188/Q

Phylogenetic chronology, or phylochronology, has become an active research area in evolutionary biology. With phylogenetic divergence dates established for the evolutionary history, the biotic evolution and the phylogenetic steps may be comprehended in the context of the physical environmental changes during the earth history. It is emphasized herein that the integrative approach of fossil dates and the relaxed molecular clock techniques would yield a better picture of the evolutionary timescale or a more precise and more accurate phylochronograms for organism groups than if only fossil dates or only molecular timescales are considered. The authors present recent development in molecular dating techniques based on the relaxed molecular clock concept and strategies in fossil calibration. Examples in recent development of animal phylochronology and estimation of the dates of early invertebrate animal landing are discussed with the integration of fossil dates, molecular chronology, and geological backgrounds. The authors stress the importance of fossil dates as the foundation for phylochronology and geological background as probable mechanisms for phylogenetic divergences or radiations.