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Related Concept Videos

Speciation Rates01:07

Speciation Rates

Speciation can proceed at markedly different rates, and evolutionary biologists commonly describe these differences through the models of gradualism and punctuated equilibrium. Both patterns explain how new species arise, but they differ in the tempo and continuity of evolutionary change. In both cases, evolutionary change arises from heritable variation within populations, with natural selection often shaping traits that improve survival and reproduction under specific environmental conditions.
The Evidence for Evolution02:55

The Evidence for Evolution

Genetic variations accumulating within populations over generations give rise to biological evolution. Evolutionary changes can result in the formation of novel varieties and entire new species. These changes are responsible for the diverse forms of life inhabiting the planet. The evidence for evolution suggests that all living organisms descended from common ancestors.The collection of fossils within sedimentary rocks give a record of common ancestry and often depicts the history of evolution.
Genetics of Speciation02:16

Genetics of Speciation

Speciation is the evolutionary process resulting in the formation of new, distinct species—groups of reproductively isolated populations.The genetics of speciation involves the different traits or isolating mechanisms preventing gene exchange, leading to reproductive isolation. Reproductive isolation can be due to reproductive barriers that have effects either before or after the formation of a zygote. Pre-zygotic mechanisms prevent fertilization from occurring, and post-zygotic mechanisms...
Limits to Natural Selection01:38

Limits to Natural Selection

Organisms that are well-adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce. However, natural selection does not lead to perfectly adapted organisms. Several factors constrain natural selection.For one, natural selection can only act upon existing genetic variation. Hypothetically, redtusks may enhance elephant survival by deterring ivory-seeking poachers. However, if there are no gene variants—or alleles—for redtusks, natural selection cannot increase the prevalence of...
Threats to Biodiversity01:50

Threats to Biodiversity

There have been five major extinction events throughout geological history, resulting in the elimination of biodiversity, followed by a rebound of species that adapted to the new conditions. In the current geological epoch, the Holocene, there is a sixth extinction event in progress. This mass extinction has been attributed to human activities and is thus provisionally called the Anthropocene. In 2019 the human population reached 7.7 billion people and is projected to comprise 10 billion by...
Formation of Species01:31

Formation of Species

Speciation describes the formation of one or more new species from one or sometimes multiple original species. The resulting species are discrete from the parent species, and barriers to reproduction will typically exist. There are two primary mechanisms, speciation with and without geographic isolation—allopatric and sympatric speciation, respectively.Allopatric SpeciationIn allopatric speciation, gene flow between two populations of the same species is prevented by a geographic barrier, like...

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Resurrection of Dormant Daphnia magna: Protocol and Applications
07:37

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Published on: January 19, 2018

Explosive evolutionary radiations: decreasing speciation or increasing extinction through time?

Daniel L Rabosky1, Irby J Lovette

  • 1Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA. DLR32@cornell.edu

Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution
|May 3, 2008
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Rapid early diversification in molecular phylogenies signals declining speciation rates, not increasing extinction. High extinction can obscure these evolutionary patterns, but decreasing speciation is often still detectable.

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Phylogenetics
  • Computational Biology

Background:

  • Time-calibrated molecular phylogenies often show rapid diversification early in evolutionary radiations.
  • This

Purpose of the Study:

  • Develop a method to estimate time-varying speciation and extinction rates.
  • Distinguish between declining speciation and increasing extinction as drivers of early diversification.

Main Methods:

  • Developed a novel method for estimating continuous time-varying speciation and extinction rates.
  • Applied the method to empirical phylogenies exhibiting explosive-early diversification.
  • Modeled lineage-accumulation curves under declining speciation and increasing extinction scenarios.

Main Results:

  • A signal of explosive-early diversification in extant taxa phylogenies is solely explained by temporally declining speciation rates.
  • Increasing extinction rates do not produce the observed explosive-early pattern.
  • High extinction rates can obscure diversification patterns, making early declines in speciation unobservable.

Conclusions:

  • The observed rapid early diversification in phylogenies is a robust indicator of decreasing speciation rates over time.
  • While extinction can mask evolutionary signals, decreasing speciation remains distinguishable in many phylogenies.
  • Understanding these rate dynamics is crucial for inferring ecological drivers of diversification.