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Alpha, beta, or gamma: where does all the diversity go?

J J Sepkoski1

  • 1Department of the Geophysical Sciences, University of Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA.

Paleobiology
|January 1, 1988
PubMed
Summary

Global taxonomic richness increased during the Paleozoic due to rising alpha and beta diversity, but other factors like reef expansion also contributed significantly to diversity gains.

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Area of Science:

  • Paleontology
  • Ecology
  • Evolutionary Biology

Background:

  • Global taxonomic richness is shaped by alpha (within-community), beta (between-community), and gamma (between-region) diversity.
  • Previous research indicated alpha diversity increased in offshore marine environments during the Ordovician.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate how variations in alpha and beta diversity influenced global diversity throughout the Paleozoic.
  • To understand the drivers of diversity during the Ordovician radiations.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of a dataset comprising 505 faunal lists.
  • Stratigraphic and environmental zone data spanning the Paleozoic era.

Main Results:

  • Alpha diversity rose 50-70% in offshore marine environments during the Ordovician, then plateaued.
  • Beta diversity among soft-bottom communities significantly increased in the early Paleozoic, linked to habitat selection and specialization.
  • Combined alpha and beta diversity changes explain only half of the observed global generic diversity increase.

Conclusions:

  • The Ordovician radiations saw significant increases in both alpha and beta diversity.
  • Increased beta diversity suggests enhanced habitat selection and specialization during diversification.
  • Other factors, such as the expansion of reefs and specialized communities, likely contributed substantially to overall global diversity increases.
Keywords:
NASA Discipline ExobiologyNon-NASA Center

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