Graptoloid diversity and disparity became decoupled during the Ordovician mass extinction
Open accessAbstract
The morphological study of extinct taxa allows for analysis of a diverse set of macroevolutionary hypotheses, including testing for change in the magnitude of morphological divergence, extinction selectivity on form, and the ecological context of radiations. Late Ordovician graptoloids experienced a phylogenetic bottleneck at the Hirnantian mass extinction (∼445 Ma), when a major clade of graptoloids was driven to extinction while another clade simultaneously radiated. In this study, we developed a dataset of 49 ecologically relevant characters for 183 species with which we tested two main hypotheses: ( i ) could the biased survival of one graptoloid clade over another have resulted from morphological selectivity alone and ( ii ) are the temporal patterns of morphological disparity and innovation during the recovery consistent with an interpretation as an adaptive radiation resulting from ecological release? We find that a general model of morphological selectivity has a low probability of producing the observed pattern of taxonomic selectivity. Contrary to predictions from theory on adaptive radiations and ecological speciation, changes in disparity and species richness are uncoupled. We also find that the early recovery is unexpectedly characterized by relatively low morphological disparity and innovation, despite also being an interval of elevated speciation. Because it is necessary to invoke factors other than ecology to explain the graptoloid recovery, more complex models may be needed to explain recovery dynamics after mass extinctions.
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- Findingown data§ Graptoloid diversity and disparity became decoupled during the Ordovician mass extinction
Early recovery is characterized by relatively low morphological disparity and innovation despite elevated speciation.
“We also find that the early recovery is unexpectedly characterized by relatively low morphological disparity and innovation, despite also being an interval of elevated speciation.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingown data
Species richness and morphological disparity, measured as mean pairwise distance, share a superficially similar pattern over the entire study interval.
“Species richness and morphological disparity, measured as mean pair-wise distance (Materials and Methods), do share a superficially similar pattern over our entire study interval (Fig. 2).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim - Findingown data§ Graptoloid diversity and disparity became decoupled during the Ordovician mass extinction
A general model of morphological selectivity has a low probability of producing the observed pattern of taxonomic selectivity.
“We find that a general model of morphological selectivity has a low probability of producing the observed pattern of taxonomic selectivity.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingown data
The joint probability for the observed survivorship at both extinction episodes under morphological selectivity is very low (P < 0.006).
“The joint probability for the observed survivorship patterns at both extinction episodes under a model of morphological selectivity is very low (P < 0.006).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingown data
Both richness and disparity decrease prominently after the first extinction episode of the HME.
“Both richness and disparity decrease prominently after the first extinction episode of the HME.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
- Findingown data
Disparity increases more steadily and gradually than species richness after the first extinction episode of the HME.
“Disparity also increases more steadily and gradually than species richness after the first extinction episode of the HME.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingnone given
Both HME extinction episodes showed patterns suggesting preferential survival of Neograptina over Diplograptina.
“Both of the extinction episodes during the HME displayed patterns that suggest a preferential survival of the Neograptina over the Diplograptina.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingcitation
Richness drops again during a minor extinction event at the end of the acuminatus Zone (AZE).
“Richness drops again during a minor extinction event at the end of the acuminatus Zone (AZE) (27).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [27]
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- Findingown data
In the analysis, convergence places many diplograptine species close to the Neograptina centroid, making their survival nearly as likely as that of neograptines.
“In our analysis, this convergence places many diplograptine species close to the Neograptina centroid, and thus the survival of these taxa is nearly as likely as the survival of the neograptines themselves.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingown data
The study found varied, fine-grained temporal lags linking species richness and morphological disparity, with offsets nearly as long as species durations.
“This study also demonstrated the presence of a varied and very fine-grained pattern of macroevolutionary lags between species richness and morphological disparity-temporal offsets of nearly the same length as the species durations themselves”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingown data
Lagging the time series in either direction also produces no significant correlations (all P values > 0.3).
“However, such lagging also does not produce any significant correlations (all P values >0.3).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingown data
Innovation did not return to pre-HME levels until at least 1 or 2 million years later.
“Innovation did not return to pre-HME levels until at least 1 or 2 million years later.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingown data
Taking first differences, there is no significant relationship between richness and disparity using either absolute differences (Pearson P = 0.41) or ranked differences (Spearman P = 0.34).
“Taking first differences for richness and disparity to remove the correlations induced by their general trends, we find no significant relationship by using either the absolute differences (Pearson's product moment correlation test; P = 0.41) or the ranked differences (Spearman's rank correlation test; P = 0.34).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingown data
Statistical analysis supports the lack of a correlation between richness and disparity during the recovery.
“Statistical analysis of the data supports the lack of a correlation between these two diversity metrics during the recovery.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingown data
Random-extinction simulations seldom yielded as many neograptine survivors as the observed data, with P < 0.02 for both episodes (10,000 simulations each).
“Our simulations of random extinction rarely produced as many neograptine survivors as in the observed data (P < 0.02 for both episodes, with 10,000 simulations each).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingown data
The AZE did not have a statistically significant effect on morphological innovation.
“Although this minor extinction event clearly had an effect on the pattern of disparity and clustering, the event did not have a statistically significant effect on morphological innovation (Fig. 3).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingown data
The authors' analyses rejected two earlier hypotheses about selectivity in morphology and ecological diversification among Paleozoic graptoloids.
“Our testing of morphological selectivity and ecological diversification in the Paleozoic graptoloids has rejected two hypotheses suggested by prior work.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingreasoning
The magnitude of morphological innovation did not initially increase above background pre-HME levels, contrary to the ecological diversification hypothesis.
“The magnitude of morphological innovation did not initially increase above “background” pre-HME levels, contrary to the expectations of the ecological diversification hypothesis.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingreasoning
The combined probability that both extinction episodes would show such high neograptine survivorship is even lower (P < 10^-3).
“The joint probability of both extinction episodes having such large numbers of neograptine survivors is even lower (P < 10 -3 ).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingown data
The quantitative morphology assessment added a dimension for testing and rejecting conclusions drawn from taxonomic diversity and phylogenetic studies.
“Our quantitative assessment of morphology gave us an additional dimension to test and reject inferences based on studies of taxonomic diversity and phylogenetic relationships.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingown data
The AZE thinned out occupation of morphospace by decreasing species richness and morphospace clustering without reducing the span of species across morphospace.
“The AZE apparently had the effect of thinning out the occupation of the morphospace by decreasing species richness and morphospace clustering without reducing the span of species”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingown data
Simulations of selective survival for neograptine-like morphology during the HME rarely produced the observed patterns at both extinction episodes.
“We found that simulations of selective survival for species with neograptine-like morphology during the HME rarely produced the patterns of neograptine survival observed at both extinction episodes.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingown data
The first four relative corrected eigenvalues summed to less than 0.1, indicating that much of the data variance is not represented along those PCO axes.
“The sum of the first four relative corrected eigenvalues is less than 0.1, indicating that much of the variance in our data is not represented along the first four axes of the PCO ordination.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Interpretationreasoning
Differential response to extinction events and bias in speciation rates during the Hirnantian resulted in the subsequent phylogenetic bottleneck of Graptoloidea.
“Their differential response to these extinction events and the bias in speciation rates during the Hirnantian are the factors that resulted in the subsequent phylogenetic bottleneck of the Graptoloidea.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Interpretationown data
Survival of Neograptina during the HME probably did not occur solely due to a selective advantage from colony morphology.
“These results indicate that the survival of the Neograptina during the HME probably did not occur as a sole result of a selective advantage afforded by their colony morphology.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Interpretationcitation
Morphological convergence between pre-HME neograptines and some diplograptine lineages, especially in late growth stages, partly explains the improbability of morphological selection for neograptine-like forms.
“The improbability of morphological selection for neograptinelike forms is partly attributable to morphological convergence.”
- Also stated in: § Morphological Selectivity of Extinction Patterns. · boosted
“Pre-HME neograptines and some diplograptine lineages were strongly convergent, particularly in late growth stages (13,26).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked- cites [13]
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- cites [26]
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- Also stated in: § Morphological Selectivity of Extinction Patterns. · boosted
- Interpretationreasoning§ Graptoloid diversity and disparity became decoupled during the Ordovician mass extinction
Explaining graptoloid recovery requires invoking factors other than ecology.
“Because it is necessary to invoke factors other than ecology to explain the graptoloid recovery, more complex models may be”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Interpretationreasoning
The drop in morphological diversity in the Hirnantian resulted from increased morphological clustering of both new species and survivors.
“This finding implies that the drop in morphological diversity in the Hirnantian was the result of increased morphological clustering of both new species and survivors.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Interpretationreasoning
If the morphology analysis captures ecologically meaningful graptoloid traits, then delayed recovery in Neograptina requires an explanation beyond ecological competition.
“If our analysis is capturing ecologically meaningful aspects of graptoloid morphology, some explanation other than ecologic competition is necessary to explain the delayed morphological recovery among the Neograptina.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Premisecitation§ Graptoloid diversity and disparity became decoupled during the Ordovician mass extinction
Before the HME, graptoloid lineages can be divided into two monophyletic clades that diverged more than 20 million years before the HME: the Neograptina and the Diplograptina.
“Before the mass extinction event, graptoloid lineages can be divided into two monophyletic clades that diverged more than 20 million years before the HME: the Neograptina and the Diplograptina (13,14).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked- cites [13]
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- cites [14] source
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- Premisecitation§ Graptoloid diversity and disparity became decoupled during the Ordovician mass extinction
The Neograptina simultaneously speciated rapidly after the first extinction episode of the HME.
“In contrast, the Neograptina simultaneously speciated rapidly after the first extinction episode of the HME (15).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [15]
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- Interpretationown data
The results strongly reject random extinction as a probable explanation for neograptine survival through the HME.
“These results strongly reject random extinction as a likely cause of neograptine survivorship during the HME, in agreement with the analyses by Chen et al. (7), who focused on the record of these events in the Yangtze Platform succession.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites Chen et al. (7)
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- Premisereasoning
If species richness depended only on the amount of ecospace that could be occupied, a stronger relationship between richness and disparity would be expected during the neograptine radiation.
“If the species richness of graptoloids only depended on the amount of ecospace that could be occupied, we would have expected a stronger relationship between species richness and morphological disparity during the neograptine radiation.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Interpretationreasoning
This decrease produced a large number of species that were more clustered in morphospace than pre-HME faunas.
“This decrease produced a large number of species that were much more clustered in morphospace than in pre-HME faunas.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Interpretationreasoning
The initial decrease and subsequent lag in morphological innovation for at least 2 million years after the start of the Hirnantian is difficult to reconcile with the ecological opportunity model.
“Furthermore, the initial decrease and subsequent lag in morphological innovation for at least 2 million years after the start of the Hirnantian is also difficult to reconcile with the ecological opportunity model.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim- The authors state this as an assumption: Graptoloid colony morphology is a good predictor of functional ecology, and morphological diversity can serve as a proxy for ecological diversity.
- Interpretationown data
High morphospace clustering and low disparity and innovation after the first extinction episode imply that initial speciation of Neograptina had essentially the opposite character expected from ecological diversification.
“The high degree of morphospace clustering and low disparity and innovation after the first extinction episode of the HME implies that the initial speciation of the Neograptina had essentially the opposite character of that expected from ecological diversification.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim- The authors state this as an assumption: Graptoloid colony morphology is a good predictor of functional ecology, and morphological diversity can serve as a proxy for ecological diversity.
- Interpretationreasoning
Because these offsets are nearly as long as species durations, they would have been invisible at the coarse time scales common in many disparity studies (bins of 5 million years or more).
“and that, consequently, would have been entirely invisible at the temporal scale used in many studies of morphological disparity in the fossil record (bins on the order of 5 million years or more).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Interpretationreasoning
Neograptina diversification during the HME exhibited less morphological divergence than characterized pre-HME graptoloids, based on low innovation relative to the ancestral stock.
“Altogether, the available evidence suggests that the Neograptina diversification during the HME exhibited less morphological divergence than characterized pre-HME graptoloids, based on the low observed innovation relative to the ancestral stock.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim- The authors state this as an assumption: Graptoloid colony morphology is a good predictor of functional ecology, and morphological diversity can serve as a proxy for ecological diversity.
- Interpretationreasoning
The observed pattern of morphological evolution appears to have been a function of factors beyond the loss of diplograptine competitors.
“Instead, the observed pattern of morphological evolution appears to have been a function of factors beyond the loss of diplograptine competitors.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim- The authors state this as an assumption: Graptoloid colony morphology is a good predictor of functional ecology, and morphological diversity can serve as a proxy for ecological diversity.
- Interpretationown data
Measurements of morphological innovation provide stronger evidence for decoupling between the processes that create disparity and richness.
“Stronger evidence for the decoupling between the processes that create disparity and richness come from our measurements of morphological innovation.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim- The authors state this as an assumption: Graptoloid colony morphology is a good predictor of functional ecology, and morphological diversity can serve as a proxy for ecological diversity.
- Interpretationown data
The quantitative morphological results are difficult to reconcile with an ecological opportunity interpretation.
“However, the results of our quantitative morphological analysis are difficult to reconcile with such an interpretation.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim- The authors state this as an assumption: Graptoloid colony morphology is a good predictor of functional ecology, and morphological diversity can serve as a proxy for ecological diversity.
- Interpretationcitation
A more likely alternative is that Neograptina survival resulted from selection for nonmorphological traits, such as larger biogeographic ranges or clade-specific physiological preferences.
“The more likely alternative is that the survival of the Neograptina was the result of selection for nonmorphological traits, such as larger biogeographic ranges or clade-specific physiological preferences for environmental conditions prevalent during the Hirnantian (7,23,30).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked - Interpretationown data
The standing hypothesis that selectivity for general colony form in the Hirnantian is the principal cause for Neograptina survival over Diplograptina can be rejected.
“Thus, we were able to test and reject a standing hypothesis that selectivity for general colony form in the Hirnantian is the principal cause for the survival of the Neograptina over the Diplograptina (7,16).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked- cites [7] source
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- cites [16]
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- Interpretationown data
Patterns of morphological disparity and species richness are somewhat discordant from the start of the Hirnantian until several million years into the recovery.
“Thus, patterns of morphological disparity and species richness are somewhat discordant in the interval from the start of the Hirnantian until several million years into the recovery.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim- The authors state this as an assumption: Graptoloid colony morphology is a good predictor of functional ecology, and morphological diversity can serve as a proxy for ecological diversity.
- Interpretationcitation
Graptoloid richness rising with little morphological diversification resembles nonadaptive radiations in some living groups, in which lineages diverge in non-morphological traits.
“The pattern of graptoloid species richness increasing with little morphological diversification is similar to the nonadaptive radiations described in some extant groups (37,38), where lineages diverge in traits unrelated to morphology, such as life history or reproduction.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked- cites [37] source
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- Interpretationreasoning
The pattern is not compatible with a model of morphological evolution controlled by intrinsic constraints in which evolutionary history and entrenched colony architecture permanently dampened the Neograptina ability to diverge morphologically.
“This pattern is also not compatible with a model of morphological evolution controlled by intrinsic constraints, where aspects of evolutionary history and entrenched colony architecture permanently dampened the ability of the Neograptina to diverge morphologically.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Study design and conductnone given
Most taxa in this study cannot be assigned to current phylogenetic hypotheses.
“Typically, the tempo of trait evolution is estimated as rates of change on a phylogeny (25,44), but a majority of the taxa in this study cannot be placed on present phylogenetic hypotheses.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Interpretationcitation
The absence of neograptine species in the uncinatus Zone is due to rarity of normalograptids there, not poor sampling.
“Note that the lack of neograptine species in the uncinatus Zone reflects the rarity of normalograptid taxa in that interval rather than a poorly sampled record(45).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [45] source
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- May combine two claims. 24
- Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 17
May combine two claims.
Findingown dataThe drop in disparity lags behind the decline in species richness, and disparity falls farther than richness relative to their preceding maxima before the HME.
“However, the drop in disparity lags behind the decline in species richness, and disparity falls farther than species richness compared with their respective preceding maxima before the HME.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimMay combine two claims.
Findingown dataUnder direct selection for neograptine morphology, resampling simulations had a small probability of producing the observed neograptine survivorship patterns: P < 0.09 for Katian-Hirnantian and P < 0.06 for Hirnantian-Llandovery, each with 10,000 simulations.
“Our resampling analyses for both extinction episodes found that, under a scenario of direct selection for neograptine morphology, there was a small but tangible probability of producing the observed neograptine survivorship patterns (for the Katian-Hirnantian extinction, P < 0.09; for the Hirnantian-Llandovery extinction, P < 0.06; each with 10,000 simulations).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimMay combine two claims.
Findingown data§ Graptoloid diversity and disparity became decoupled during the Ordovician mass extinctionChanges in disparity and species richness are uncoupled, contrary to predictions from adaptive radiation and ecological speciation theory.
“Contrary to predictions from theory on adaptive radiations and ecological speciation, changes in disparity and species richness are uncoupled.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim- The authors state this as an assumption: Graptoloid colony morphology is a good predictor of functional ecology, and morphological diversity can serve as a proxy for ecological diversity.
May combine two claims.
Findingown dataMean NND and the NND-based innovation metric decrease with species richness.
“We find the opposite trend, with mean NND and the NND-based innovation metric decreasing with species richness.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimMay combine two claims.
Findingnone givenIn the Hirnantian, speciation accelerated among graptoloids while morphological innovation stayed low.
“Any such explanation must account for both the observed increase in speciation rate and the depressed level of morphological innovation during the Hirnantian.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.
Findingnone givenChanges in morphological innovation and morphological diversity appear to be correlated, though this is not a necessary expectation.
“In addition, changes in morphological innovation and morphological diversity appear to be correlated, although this is not a necessary expectation based on first principles.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimMay combine two claims.
Findingown dataBy all three estimates, morphological change was relatively high during the late Katian but decreased sharply at the onset of the HME.
“By all three estimates of morphological innovation, the magnitude of morphological change was relatively high during the late Katian but decreased sharply at the onset of the HME (Fig. 3).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimMay combine two claims.
Findingown dataThe AZE extinction event also marks an increase in morphological disparity, though this shift is not statistically significant.
“Surprisingly, this extinction event also marks an increase in morphological disparity, although this shift is not statistically significant (Fig. 2).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimMay combine two claims.
Findingown dataThe NND pattern is very similar to the disparity pattern, with a decrease in the Hirnantian and an increase after the AZE.
“We found NND to be very similar to the pattern shown for disparity in Fig. 2, with a decrease in the Hirnantian and an increase after the AZE (Fig. S1).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimMay combine two claims.
Findingown dataAll three metrics indicate a decrease in morphological innovation of new species during the HME, though early Silurian dynamics are uncertain.
“Although dynamics in the early Silurian are somewhat uncertain, all three metrics indicate a decrease in the morphological innovation of new species during the HME.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimMay combine two claims.
FindingcitationMean innovation decreased in response to the mass extinction and remained low for millions of years, despite increased speciation rates for Neograptina.
“Instead, mean innovation actually decreased in response to the mass extinction and remained at low levels for millions of years, despite the Hirnantian being an interval of increased speciation rates for the Neograptina (7).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [7] source
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FindingreasoningIn intervals after the AZE, species richness, disparity, and innovation all increased.
“In the intervals after the AZE, species richness, disparity, and innovation all increased.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimMay combine two claims.
Premisecitation§ Graptoloid diversity and disparity became decoupled during the Ordovician mass extinctionLate Ordovician graptoloids underwent a phylogenetic bottleneck at the Hirnantian mass extinction around 445 Ma, with one major clade going extinct while another radiated simultaneously.
“Late Ordovician graptoloids experienced a phylogenetic bottleneck at the Hirnantian mass extinction (∼445 Ma), when a major clade of graptoloids was driven to extinction while another clade simultaneously radiated.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked- cites [7] source
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- cites [15]
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Study design and conductcitationMean pairwise distance was selected to measure morphological disparity because it resists sample-size effects and is therefore suitable given large shifts in observed species richness.
“We chose mean pair-wise distance as our measure of morphological disparity, which is notably robust to changes in number of species sampled (41) and thus well-suited for this study given the large changes in observed species richness.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [41] source
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Interpretationown dataThe spread of variance across many PCO axes implies a highly mosaic pattern of graptoloid evolution in this interval, with few well-developed character complexes.
“Although this finding precludes a simple discussion or illustration of the morphospace, this spreading of variance across a wide number of PCO axes implies that graptoloid evolution in our study interval was highly mosaic, with few well-developed character complexes.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimMay combine two claims.
PremisecitationPrevious work demonstrated links between graptoloid form, hydrodynamics, and overall ecology, supporting the claim that variation in graptoloid morphology reflects real ecological differences.
“Previous work has demonstrated links between graptoloid form, hydrodynamics, and overall ecology (31)(32)(33), supporting our claim that variation in graptoloid morphology reflects real ecological differences.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites (31)(32)(33)
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Premisecitation§ Graptoloid diversity and disparity became decoupled during the Ordovician mass extinctionTheory on adaptive radiations predicts that morphological variation should accumulate early in the radiation of the neograptines and that the rate should subsequently slow down.
“Theory on adaptive radiations also predicts that morphological variation should accumulate early in the radiation of the neograptines and the rate should subsequently slow down (24,25).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked- cites [24] source
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- cites [25]
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InterpretationreasoningThe tests do not reject the possibility that selective extinction favored specific morphological characters among Neograptina, but it is not clear that any uniquely neograptine traits could be the basis for their survival.
“Although these tests do not reject the possibility that selective extinction may have favored specific morphological characters found among the Neograptina, it is not clear that any of the uniquely neograptine traits could be the basis for their unlikely survival.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S1 (asserted), S4 (based).
Premisenone given§ Graptoloid diversity and disparity became decoupled during the Ordovician mass extinctionUnder a model of adaptive radiation where ecological opportunity promotes diversification, morphological and taxonomic diversity should correlate from interval to interval as new species fill the available ecospace.
“Under a model of adaptive radiation where ecological opportunity promotes diversification, morphological and taxonomic diversity should correlate from interval to interval as new species fill the available ecospace.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimMay combine two claims.
Premisecitation§ Graptoloid diversity and disparity became decoupled during the Ordovician mass extinctionGraptoloids experienced some of the highest extinction intensities among marine invertebrates during the HME, and the surviving taxa were a limited sample of pre-HME lineages.
“The graptoloids experienced some of the highest extinction intensities among marine invertebrates during the HME (12), and the surviving taxa were a limited sample of pre-HME lineages.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [12]
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Premisereasoning§ Graptoloid diversity and disparity became decoupled during the Ordovician mass extinctionAny evidence of a shift in the rate of morphological change should be in the Early Hirnantian when the neograptines first begin to diversify.
“Thus, any evidence of a shift in the rate of morphological change should be in the Early Hirnantian when the neograptines first begin to diversify (Fig. 1).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).
Interpretationown dataThe inability to find strong correlations may partly result from the small number of intervals analyzed.
“Our inability to find strong correlations may result in part from the small number of intervals analyzed.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimMay combine two claims.
InterpretationreasoningIf the intrinsic constraint model were true, no shift to pre-HME innovation levels would be observed, yet a shift to an adaptive radiation-like pattern occurs after the AZE.
“If this model were true, no shift to pre-HME levels of morphological innovation would be observed, yet there is a shift to an adaptive radiation-like pattern of morphological diversification after the AZE.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimClassified as probably not a substantial claim.
PremisecitationSome recent work has shown that functional diversity and morphological diversity can be discordant.
“However, some recent work has shown that functional diversity and morphological diversity can be discordant (34,35).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checkedProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).
Study design and conductnone givenThe small number of neograptine taxa known before the HME makes it difficult to quantitatively assess their characteristic level of morphological divergence.
“However, the small number of neograptine taxa known before the HME makes it difficult to quantitatively assess their characteristic level of morphological divergence.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimMay combine two claims.
InterpretationreasoningThe expected bias from variable species richness reinforces the conclusion that Neograptina radiated in the early Hirnantian but new species were less morphologically divergent and all taxa were more clustered.
“Therefore, the expected bias attributable to variable species richness only reinforces our conclusion that, although the Neograptina radiated in the early Hirnantian, new species were less morphologically divergent, and all taxa present were more clustered in morphospace.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimClassified as probably not a substantial claim.
Premisecitation§ Graptoloid diversity and disparity became decoupled during the Ordovician mass extinctionMitchell demonstrated that the Silurian Neograptina evolved a number of morphologies that converged upon pre-Hirnantian diplograptine forms.
“Mitchell (18) demonstrated that the Silurian Neograptina evolved a number of morphologies that converged upon pre-Hirnantian diplograptine forms.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites Mitchell (18)
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Premisecitation§ Graptoloid diversity and disparity became decoupled during the Ordovician mass extinctionThe Diplograptina were much more species-rich and morphologically disparate before the HME but were driven extinct during the Hirnantian glaciation.
“Although the Diplograptina were much more species-rich and morphologically disparate before the HME (Fig. 1), they were driven to extinction during the Hirnantian glaciation (7,15).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked- cites [7] source
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- cites [15]
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Premisereasoning§ Graptoloid diversity and disparity became decoupled during the Ordovician mass extinctionIf the graptoloid recovery was primarily driven by ecological opportunity, there should be a close relationship between species richness and morphological disparity as the neograptines diversify.
“If the graptoloid recovery was primarily driven by ecological opportunity, there should be a close relationship between species richness and morphological disparity as the neograptines diversify.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimClassified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.
Premisecitation§ Graptoloid diversity and disparity became decoupled during the Ordovician mass extinctionPrevious work suggests that only a single morphotype survived the HME and that the number of morphotypes recovered in the Silurian.
“Previous work suggests that only a single morphotype survived the HME (16,17) and that the number of morphotypes recovered in the Silurian.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked- cites [16]
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InterpretationreasoningThese trends match theoretical expectations for an adaptive radiation driven by ecological opportunity, but this condition did not develop until several million years after neograptines began rapidly diversifying.
“These trends match our theoretical expectations for an adaptive radiation driven by ecological opportunity, yet this condition did not develop until several million years after the neograptines began to rapidly diversify.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim- The authors state this as an assumption: Graptoloid colony morphology is a good predictor of functional ecology, and morphological diversity can serve as a proxy for ecological diversity.
Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).
Study design and conductown dataOnly 3% of all possible species-by-trait entries were missing from the data matrix.
“The resulting data matrix was only missing data for 3% of all possible species/ trait entries.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimClassified as probably not a substantial claim.
Premisecitation§ Graptoloid diversity and disparity became decoupled during the Ordovician mass extinctionChen et al. established that the survival and proliferation of the Neograptina during the Hirnantian cannot be explained by stochastic nonselective processes.
“Chen et al. (7) established that the survival and proliferation of the Neograptina during the Hirnantian cannot be explained by stochastic nonselective processes”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites Chen et al. (7)
Not checked in the free run.
Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).
InterpretationreasoningThe NND-based metric may estimate morphological divergence more accurately than the others, since ancestral forms are likely to lie near their descendants in morphospace.
“Given that ancestors are more likely to be close in morphospace to their descendants than not, the NND-based metric may be the more accurate estimate of morphological divergence.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim- Rests on an assumption: Ancestors are more likely than not to lie close to their descendants in morphospace.
Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.
Study design and conductreasoningTogether the three innovation metrics bracket the likely range of morphological divergence, although each alone is not a precise estimate of trait change.
“These individual measures of innovation cannot be considered precise estimates of the degree of trait change, but together they effectively bracket the expected range of possibilities.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimClassified as probably not a substantial claim.
PremisecitationThe graptolite zones are dated using the time scale of Sadler et al.
“Absolute time scale for the zones is taken from Sadler et al.(39).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites Sadler et al.(39)
Not checked in the free run.
Classified as probably not a substantial claim.
PremisecitationThe analysis adopts phylogenetic relationships from earlier cladistic studies.
“Phylogenetic relationships are taken from previous cladistic analyses (13, 40).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked- cites [13]
Not checked in the free run.
- cites [40] source
Not checked in the free run.
Classified as probably not a substantial claim.
Study design and conductcitationDisparity shifts were deemed significant using resampling tests with 1,000 bootstraps and a Bonferroni-corrected P < 0.05.
“Asterisks represent significant shifts in disparity, based on resampling tests with 1,000 bootstraps (P < 0.05, Bonferroni-corrected)(46).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [46]
Not checked in the free run.
The paper relies on this without support.
The changes in morphological diversity during this interval had not been quantitatively studied before.
“The changes in morphological diversity during this interval have not been studied quantitatively.”
The authors state this as an assumption.
Graptoloid colony morphology is a good predictor of functional ecology, and morphological diversity can serve as a proxy for ecological diversity.
“It is possible that this mismatch results from a failure of our assumption that the morphology of graptoloid colonies is a good predictor of their functional ecology and, thus, that morphological diversity can be used as a proxy for ecological diversity.”
The authors state this as an assumption.
The morphological selectivity analysis assumes a linear-selection model favoring species with more neograptine-like colony forms.
“This calculation assumes a model of linear selection for species with more neograptine-like colony forms.”
The authors state this as an assumption.
The innovation metrics assume that species from the previous zone accurately represent the ancestral stock.
“assuming that the species in the previous zone represent an accurate estimate of the ancestral stock.”
The paper relies on this without support.
No theoretical explanation exists for why a nonadaptive radiation would later shift to high morphological differentiation, as happened in the early Silurian.
“There is no theoretical explanation for why a nonadaptive radiation would later shift to high levels of morphological differentiation, however, as occurs in the early Silurian.”
The paper relies on this without support.
Ancestors are more likely than not to lie close to their descendants in morphospace.
“Given that ancestors are more likely to be close in morphospace to their descendants than not, the NND-based metric may be the more accurate estimate of morphological divergence.”
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
Many recent studies followed similar protocols, and the authors adopted these methods as a unifying approach.
“Many studies have recently followed similar protocols (27,(36)(37)(38), and we adopted these methods here as a unifying approach.”
From Clades reach highest morphological disparity early in their evolution (2013) · cites this paper as [37]
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Cited by
Sorted by citations
A functional approach reveals community responses to disturbances
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Clades reach highest morphological disparity early in their evolution
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Etienne, R. S., & Haegeman, B. (2012) · The American Naturalist · doi:10.1086/667574 · Cited by 138 · see citing works
- Authors
- Bapst, D. W., Bullock, P. C., Melchin, M. J., Sheets, H. D., & Mitchell, C. E.
- Affiliations
- University of Chicago (US)
- St. Francis Xavier University (CA)
- Canisius College (US)
- University at Buffalo, State University of New York (US)
- Venue
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
- Publisher
- National Academy of Sciences
- Published
- 2012-02-13
- Volume
- 109
- Issue
- 9
- Pages
- 3428-3433
- ISSN
- 0027-8424 (ISSN-L)
- 1091-6490
- PMC
- PMC3295294
- OpenAlex
- W1994390563
- Cited by
- 94
- References
- 43
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 14 · 2012: 5
- FWCI
- 6.63
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Science Foundation (0418790, 0418794)
- Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Evolution and Paleontology Studies
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Paleontology and Evolutionary Biology
- Keywords
- morphological disparity, adaptive radiation, ecological release, post-extinction recovery, speciation, macroevolution, extinction selectivity
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Chordata, Nonvertebrate, Fossils, Models, Biological, Phylogeny, Species Specificity, Zooplankton, Ecosystem, Geologic Sediments, Biodiversity, Genetic Speciation, Extinction, Biological
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Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
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