Interdependence of specialization and biodiversity in Phanerozoic marine invertebrates

Abstract

Studies of the dynamics of biodiversity often suggest that diversity has upper limits, but the complex interplay between ecological and evolutionary processes and the relative role of biotic and abiotic factors that set upper limits to diversity are poorly understood. Here we statistically assess the relationship between global biodiversity and the degree of habitat specialization of benthic marine invertebrates over the Phanerozoic eon. We show that variation in habitat specialization correlates positively with changes in global diversity, that is, times of high diversity coincide with more specialized faunas. We identify the diversity dynamics of specialists but not generalists, and origination rates but not extinction rates, as the main drivers of this ecological interdependence. Abiotic factors fail to show any significant relationship with specialization. Our findings suggest that the overall level of specialization and its fluctuations over evolutionary timescales are controlled by diversitydependent processes-driven by interactions between organisms competing for finite resources.

Does pollen-assemblage richness reflect floristic richness? A review of recent developments and future challenges

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Approaches to Macroevolution: 2. Sorting of Variation, Some Overarching Issues, and General Conclusions

“…These two, almost independent, literatures represent a vigorous exploration of broad-sense species selection, providing a lengthy list of organismic and species-level features that are significantly associated with taxonomic rates, durations, or standing diversities (for reviews see Pennell and Harmon 2013 ; Morlon 2014 ; and the tables in Jablonski 2008a ). Most are fairly intuitive, although the jury is still out on some key issues, including, remarkably, whether specialization or broad niches are the greater long-term liability (Nürnberg and Aberhan 2014 ; Burin et al 2016 ; Raia et al 2016 ; Alva et al 2017 ). In any case, as already noted regarding cross-level conflicts, rate differentials set by organismic traits still require a hierarchical perspective (Vrba and Gould 1986 ; Jablonski 2008a ; Futuyma 2015 ).…”

Progress to extinction: increased specialisation causes the demise of animal clades

“…But as the clade diversifies its total occupied range fills the available ecological space, thus depressing geographical expansion and greatly strengthening the effects of competition 7 8 24 25 . During this stage, specialisation might further foster taxonomic diversity, by promoting species coexistence, hence sympatry 26 27 28 . Yet, it also drives the clade into a late phase when its negative effects of survival and diversification will eventually take their toll on clade survival.…”