Abstract
A MAJOR area of speculation in palaeobiology is the search for the “causes” of massive cross-group extinctions such as that at the end of the Cretaceous. A controversial recent addition to the literature on the phenomenon of extinction itself is the work of Van Valen1, who attempts to show that extinctions are stochastically constant over time for given groups of organisms. Lacking from Van Valen's study of group survivorship, however, is consideration of the history of diversification within each group. In an empirical study I have attempted to demonstrate features common to the diversifications of lower vertebrates and other organisms.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Van Valen, L., Evol. Theory, 1, 1–30 (1973).
Harland, W. B. (ed.), The Fossil Record (Geological Society of London, 1967).
Romer, A. S., Vertebrate Paleontology (University Press, Chicago, 1966).
Thomson, K. S., in Patterns of Evolution (edit. by Hallam, A.) (Elsevier, Amsterdam, in the press).
Schopf, T. M. J., J. Geol., 82, 129–143 (1973).
Simberloff, D. S., J. Geol., 82, 267–274 (1973).
McArthur, R. H., Geographical Ecology: Patterns in the Distribution of Species (Harper, New York, 1972).
Valentine, J. W., Palaeontology, 12, 684–700 (1969); Science, 180, 1078–1079 (1973).
Valentine, J. W., and Moores, E. M., J. Geol., 180, 167–184 (1972).
Raup, D. M., Science, 177, 1065–1071 (1972).
Flessa, K. W., and Imbrie, J., in Implications of Continental Drift to the Earth Sciences (edit. by Tarling, D. H., and Runcorn, S. K.) (Academic, London and New York, 1973).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
THOMSON, K. Explanation of large scale extinctions of lower vertebrates. Nature 261, 578–580 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1038/261578a0
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/261578a0
This article is cited by
-
Fossils make waves
Nature (2005)
-
Cycles in fossil diversity
Nature (2005)
-
Episodes of terrestrial geologic activity during the past 260 million years: A quantitative approach
Celestial Mechanics and Dynamical Astronomy (1992)
-
Non-progressive evolution, the red queen hypothesis, and the balance of nature
Acta Biotheoretica (1979)
-
Turning points in Phanerozoic history
Nature (1977)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.
