Evolutionary Significance of Morphospecies: A Test with Cheilostome Bryozoa

Much of the controversy concerning the theory of punctuated equilibrium stems from skepticism about the biologic validity of fossil morphospecies, particularly for supposedly simple invertebrate taxa like cheilostome Bryozoa that form the bulk of the fossil record. However, evidence from breeding ex...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 1990-05, Vol.248 (4955), p.579-583
Main Authors: Jeremy B. C. Jackson, Cheetham, Alan H.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alleles
Anesthesia
Anesthetics
Biological taxonomies
Bryozoa
Bryozoans
Electrophoresis
Evolution
Fossil invertebrates
Fossils
Genera
Genetic loci
Invertebrates, Fossil
Marine
Paleontology
Species
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Summary:Much of the controversy concerning the theory of punctuated equilibrium stems from skepticism about the biologic validity of fossil morphospecies, particularly for supposedly simple invertebrate taxa like cheilostome Bryozoa that form the bulk of the fossil record. However, evidence from breeding experiments and protein electrophoresis shows that morphospecific identity of cheilostomes is heritable and that morphospecies are genetically distinct with no indication of morphologically cryptic species. Thus paleontologists can study cheilostome evolution at the species level, and previously demonstrated patterns suggesting punctuated speciation in cheilostomes should be taken at face value.
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.248.4955.579