Phanerozoic Trends in the Global Diversity of Marine Invertebrates
University of Southern California · Museum für Naturkunde · +6 more institutions
Abstract
It has previously been thought that there was a steep Cretaceous and Cenozoic radiation of marine invertebrates. This pattern can be replicated with a new data set of fossil occurrences representing 3.5 million specimens, but only when older analytical protocols are used. Moreover, analyses that employ sampling standardization and more robust counting methods show a modest rise in diversity with no clear trend after the mid-Cretaceous. Globally, locally, and at both high and low latitudes, diversity was less than twice as high in the Neogene as in the mid-Paleozoic. The ratio of global to local richness has changed little, and a latitudinal diversity gradient was present in the early Paleozoic.
Citation impact
- FWCI
- 90.19
- Percentile
- 100%
- References
- 34
Authors
35- JAJohn AlroyCorresponding
University of Southern California, Museum für Naturkunde, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, University of Chicago, National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis
- MAMartin Aberhan
University of Southern California, Museum für Naturkunde, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, University of Chicago, National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis
- DJDavid J. Bottjer
University of Southern California, Museum für Naturkunde, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, University of Chicago, National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis
- MFMichael Foote
University of Southern California, Museum für Naturkunde, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, University of Chicago, National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis
- FTFranz T. Fürsich
University of Southern California, Museum für Naturkunde, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, University of Chicago, National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis
Topics & keywords
- Cenozoic
- Cretaceous
- Paleontology
- Paleozoic
- Species richness
- Phanerozoic
- Invertebrate
- Marine invertebrates
- Life below water