Phanerozoic trends in the global diversity of marine invertebrates

Alroy, J. et al. (2008) Phanerozoic trends in the global diversity of marine invertebrates. Science, 321(5885), pp. 97-100. (doi: 10.1126/science.1156963)

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.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: McGowan, Dr Alistair
• Authors: Alroy, J., Aberhan, M., Bottjer, D.J., Foote, M., Fursich, F.T., Harries, P.J., Hendy, A.J.W., Holland, S.M., Ivany, L.C., Kiessling, W., Kosnik, M.A., Marshall, C.R., McGowan, A.J., Miller, A.I., Olszewski, T.D., Patzkowsky, M.E., Peters, S.E., Villier, L., Wagner, P.J., Bonuso, N., Borkow, P.S., Brenneis, B., Clapham, M.E., Fall, L.M., Ferguson, C.A., Hanson, V.L., Krug, A.Z., Layou, K.M., Leckey, E.H., Nurnberg, S., Powers, C.M., Sessa, J.A., Simpson, C., Tomasovych, A., and Visaggi, C.C.
• Subjects: Q Science > QH Natural history
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Geographical and Earth Sciences
• Journal Name: Science
• Publisher: American Association for the Advancement of Science
• ISSN: 0036-8075
• ISSN (Online): 1095-9203