The meaning of birth and death (in macroevolutionary birth–death models)

Birth–death models are central to much macroevolutionary theory. The fundamental parameters of these models concern durations. Different species concepts realize different species durations because they represent different ideas of what birth (speciation) and death (extinction) mean. Here, we use Ce...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biology letters (2005) 2012-02, Vol.8 (1), p.139-142
Main Authors: Ezard, Thomas H. G., Pearson, Paul N., Aze, Tracy, Purvis, Andy
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological Evolution
Birth
Classification - methods
Computer Simulation
Death
Extinction
Extinction, Biological
Foraminifera - cytology
Genetic Speciation
Models, Biological
Special Feature
Speciation
Species Concept
Species Specificity
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Summary:Birth–death models are central to much macroevolutionary theory. The fundamental parameters of these models concern durations. Different species concepts realize different species durations because they represent different ideas of what birth (speciation) and death (extinction) mean. Here, we use Cenozoic macroperforate planktonic foraminifera as a case study to ask: what are the dynamical consequences of changing the definition of birth and death? We show strong evidence for biotic constraints on diversification using evolutionary species, but less with morphospecies. Discussing reasons for this discrepancy, we emphasize that clarity of species concept leads to clarity of meaning when interpreting macroevolutionary birth–death models.
ISSN:1744-9561
1744-957X
DOI:10.1098/rsbl.2011.0699