The meaning of birth and death (in macroevolutionary birth-death models)
The meaning of birth and death (in macroevolutionary birth-death models)
Birth–death models are central to much macroevolutionary theory. The fundamental parameters of these models concern durations. Different species concepts realize different species durations because they represent different ideas of what birth (speciation) and death (extinction) mean. Here, we use Cenozoic macroperforate planktonic foraminifera as a case study to ask: what are the dynamical consequences of changing the definition of birth and death? We show strong evidence for biotic constraints on diversification using evolutionary species, but less with morphospecies. Discussing reasons for this discrepancy, we emphasize that clarity of species concept leads to clarity of meaning when interpreting macroevolutionary birth–death models.
birth, death, extinction, speciation, species concept
139-142
Ezard, T.H.G.
a143a893-07d0-4673-a2dd-cea2cd7e1374
Pearson, P.N.
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Aze, T.
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Purvis, A.
c64e4e1c-36d7-40bf-8c1e-706a0de769c9
September 2011
Ezard, T.H.G.
a143a893-07d0-4673-a2dd-cea2cd7e1374
Pearson, P.N.
a96a4f03-ca65-4d4d-a1a3-1a471ebe6d5a
Aze, T.
7209bf00-9a64-43d9-967f-e4569ebd2d98
Purvis, A.
c64e4e1c-36d7-40bf-8c1e-706a0de769c9
Ezard, T.H.G., Pearson, P.N., Aze, T. and Purvis, A.
(2011)
The meaning of birth and death (in macroevolutionary birth-death models).
Biology Letters, 8 (1), .
(doi:10.1098/rsbl.2011.0699).
Abstract
Birth–death models are central to much macroevolutionary theory. The fundamental parameters of these models concern durations. Different species concepts realize different species durations because they represent different ideas of what birth (speciation) and death (extinction) mean. Here, we use Cenozoic macroperforate planktonic foraminifera as a case study to ask: what are the dynamical consequences of changing the definition of birth and death? We show strong evidence for biotic constraints on diversification using evolutionary species, but less with morphospecies. Discussing reasons for this discrepancy, we emphasize that clarity of species concept leads to clarity of meaning when interpreting macroevolutionary birth–death models.
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Published date: September 2011
Keywords:
birth, death, extinction, speciation, species concept
Organisations:
Environmental
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Local EPrints ID: 344722
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/344722
ISSN: 1744-9561
PURE UUID: 60e7a962-6dc7-462e-b51b-39dd819062c0
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Date deposited: 31 Oct 2012 15:55
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 03:46
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Contributors
Author:
T.H.G. Ezard
Author:
P.N. Pearson
Author:
T. Aze
Author:
A. Purvis
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