Evolutionary and Preservational Constraints on Origins of Biologic Groups: Divergence Times of Eutherian Mammals

Some molecular clock estimates of divergence times of taxonomic groups undergoing evolutionary radiation are much older than the groups' first observed fossil record. Mathematical models of branching evolution are used to estimate the maximal rate of fossil preservation consistent with a postul...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inScience (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Vol. 283; no. 5406; pp. 1310 - 1314
Main Authors Foote, Mike, Hunter, John P., Janis, Christine M., Sepkoski, J. John
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Legacy CDMS American Society for the Advancement of Science 26.02.1999
American Association for the Advancement of Science
The American Association for the Advancement of Science
Subjects
Analysis
Animals
Biological Evolution
Biological research
Biological taxonomies
Biology, Experimental
Body Composition
Computer Peripherals
Divergent evolution
Earth sciences
Earth, ocean, space
Estimated taxes
Evolution
Exact sciences and technology
Extinct species
Fossils
Geology
Geosciences (General)
Mammals
Mammals, Fossil
Mathematical models
Mathematics
Models, Biological
Paleobiology
Paleontology
Prehistoric mammals
Space life sciences
Species diversity
Species extinction
Vertebrate paleontology
Massachusetts
Non-Nasa Center
Nasa Discipline Exobiology
Vertebrata
biologic evolution
Mammalia
extinction
Chordata
mathematical models
Theria
species diversity
taxonomy
Eutheria
Tetrapoda
NASA Discipline Exobiology
Non-NASA Center
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Summary:Some molecular clock estimates of divergence times of taxonomic groups undergoing evolutionary radiation are much older than the groups' first observed fossil record. Mathematical models of branching evolution are used to estimate the maximal rate of fossil preservation consistent with a postulated missing history, given the sum of species durations implied by early origins under a range of species origination and extinction rates. The plausibility of postulated divergence times depends on origination, extinction, and preservation rates estimated from the fossil record. For eutherian mammals, this approach suggests that it is unlikely that many modern orders arose much earlier than their oldest fossil records.
Bibliography:CDMS
Legacy CDMS
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ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.283.5406.1310