| Dissecting global diversity patterns: examples from the Ordovician Radiation. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 11541187 Owner: NASA Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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Although the history of life has been characterized by intermittent episodes of radiation that can be recognized in global compilations of biodiversity, it does not necessarily follow that these episodes are caused by processes that occurred uniformly around the world. Major diversity increases could be generated by the cumulative effects of different mechanisms operating simultaneously at several geographic or environmental scales. The purpose of this review is to describe ongoing research on the manifestations, at several scales, of the Ordovician Radiation, which was among the most extensive intervals of diversification in the history of life. Through much of the period, diversity was concentrated most heavily near regions of active mountain building and volcanism; differences in diversity patterns from continent to continent, and among regions within continents, reflect this overprint. While this suggests a linkage of the Radiation and tectonic activity, this is by no means the only mediating agent. Outcrop-based research in North America has demonstrated that tectonic activity was detrimental to some biotic elements, in contrast to its effects on other organisms. Moreover, in the Great Basin of North America where the local stratigraphic record is of particularly high quality, biotic transitions characteristic of the period occurred far more rapidly than observed in global compilations of diversity, suggesting that the global rate of transition may represent the aggregate sum of transitions that occurred abruptly, but at different times, around the world. Finally, it has been demonstrated that, in concert with an increase in average age, the environmental and geographic ranges of Ordovician genera both increased significantly through the period, indicating a role for intrinsic factors in producing Ordovician biotic patterns. |
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Authors:
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A I Miller |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.; Review |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Annual review of ecology and systematics Volume: 28 ISSN: 0066-4162 ISO Abbreviation: Annu Rev Ecol Syst Publication Date: 1997 |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 1998-11-29 Completed Date: 1998-11-29 Revised Date: 2008-11-21 |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 1310651 Medline TA: Annu Rev Ecol Syst Country: UNITED STATES |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 85-104 Citation Subset: S |
Affiliation:
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Department of Geology, University of Cincinnati, Ohio 45221-0013, USA. arnold.miller@uc.edu |
Export Citation:
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APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex |
| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Animals Earth (Planet)* Ecosystem* Evolution* Evolution, Planetary Fossils* Geological Phenomena Geology Marine Biology Paleontology* Phylogeny |
| Investigator | |
Investigator/Affiliation:
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A I Miller / U Cincinnati, OH |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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