Origins of Biodiversity

Area of Science:

• Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
• Paleontology
• Biodiversity Science

Background:

• Modern biodiversity exhibits significant heterogeneity, with varying species richness across different clades, environments (terrestrial vs. marine), and latitudes (tropical vs. temperate-polar regions).
• Previous hypotheses suggested clade age influences extinction risk, but this relationship remains debated and requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the underlying rules governing the heterogeneity of modern biodiversity.
• To explore how evolutionary diversification regimes influence clade size and branching patterns over geological time.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of biodiversity patterns across different clades and environments.
• Examination of evolutionary diversification regimes throughout geological history.

Main Results:

• Clades undergo distinct diversification regimes across geological time.
• These diversification regimes directly influence the balance between clade size and the nature of branching events, impacting overall biodiversity.

Conclusions:

• Evolutionary diversification regimes are key determinants of biodiversity patterns.
• Understanding these regimes provides insights into the historical processes shaping current species richness and clade structure.