Abstract
QUANTITATIVE studies of patterns of diversification and extinction throughout geological time have come to rely on databases assembled by Sepkoski1. A new database has been presented by Benton2, who argues that the increase in diversity is exponential, that "there is no need to assume equilibrium levels of global diversity, nor to apply logistic models to the investigation of past diversification patterns", and that mass extinctions played no special role in the diversification of life. However, we find that diversification can be predicted by a simple model in which long periods of growth obeying a logistic equation are sporadically interrupted by brief events leading to mass extinction. The initial value of diversity immediately after a mass extinction, initial growth rate and subsequent equilibrium level determine each segment of the growth curve. The larger mass extinctions that came after long periods without one seem to have been followed by larger equilibrium levels of diversity.
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
Sepkoski, J. J. Milwauk. Public Mus. Contrib. Biol. Geol. 51, 1–125 (1982).
Benton, M. J. Science 268, 52–58 (1995).
Sepkoski, J. J. Paleobiology 4(3), 223–251 (1978).
Sepkoski, J. J. Paleobiology 5(3), 222–251 (1979).
Sepkoski, J. J. Paleobiology 10(2), 246–267 (1984).
Sepkoski, J. J. in Systematics, Ecology, and the Biodiversity Crisis (ed. Eldredge, N.) 77–100 (Colombia Univ. Press, NY, 1992).
Sepkoski, J. J. in The Unity of Evolutionary Biology (ed. Dudley, E. C.) 210–236 (Dioscorides Press, Portland, OR, 1991).
Hoffman, A. Arguments on Evolution—A Paleontological Perspective 218–224 (Oxford Univ. Press, New York, 1989).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Courtillot, V., Gaudemer, Y. Effects of mass extinctions on biodiversity. Nature 381, 146–148 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1038/381146a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/381146a0
This article is cited by
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.