Cited by 262Evolution and Paleontology StudiesMorphological variations and asymmetryPaleontology and Evolutionary Biology

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 76 of the 78 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; none of the 27 sources its claims cite is checked for support yet.

Clades reach highest morphological disparity early in their evolution

Open access
Hughes, Martin, Gerber, Sylvain, Wills, Matthew Albion·2013·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Abstract

There are few putative macroevolutionary trends or rules that withstand scrutiny. Here, we test and verify the purported tendency for animal clades to reach their maximum morphological variety relatively early in their evolutionary histories (early high disparity). We present a meta-analysis of 98 metazoan clades radiating throughout the Phanerozoic. The disparity profiles of groups through time are summarized in terms of their center of gravity (CG), with values above and below 0.50 indicating top- and bottom-heaviness, respectively. Clades that terminate at one of the “big five” mass extinction events tend to have truncated trajectories, with a significantly top-heavy CG distribution overall. The remaining 63 clades show the opposite tendency, with a significantly bottom-heavy mean CG (relatively early high disparity). Resampling tests are used to identify groups with a CG significantly above or below 0.50; clades not terminating at a mass extinction are three times more likely to be significantly bottom-heavy than top-heavy. Overall, there is no clear temporal trend in disparity profile shapes from the Cambrian to the Recent, and early high disparity is the predominant pattern throughout the Phanerozoic. Our results do not allow us to distinguish between ecological and developmental explanations for this phenomenon. To the extent that ecology has a role, however, the paucity of bottom-heavy clades radiating in the immediate wake of mass extinctions suggests that early high disparity more probably results from the evolution of key apomorphies at the base of clades rather than from physical drivers or catastrophic ecospace clearing.

Overview

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1073/pnas.1302642110

Cites

76 of 76 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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Claims the paper makes

16 Not checked yet · 15 Own result · 6 Own interpretation · 3 Own method · 3 No basis given

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  • It may state two separate claims as one. 18
  • Probably not a substantial claim. 14
24 of 24
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The early high disparity model had not been tested systematically before this study.

    “However, the validity of this early high disparity model has never been tested systematically.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The 98 sampled clades are representative of metazoan clades across the Phanerozoic.

    “We compiled published discrete morphological and stratigraphic data for 98 vertebrate and invertebrate clades radiating throughout the Phanerozoic (Dataset S2).”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Key innovations can arise at any time.

    “key innovations (which can evolve at any time)”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The 63 clades not terminating at a mass extinction were free-evolving and not otherwise truncated.

    “we again focused on the 63”
4 of 4

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Citations

Cites

Show all 78 references

Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. SJ Gould Wonderful Life (W. W. Norton, New York, 1989).
  2. ENK Clarkson Invertebrate Palaeontology & Evolution (Wiley, New York, 1998).

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Items 201–262 of 262

Metadata

Authors
Hughes, M., Gerber, S., & Wills, M. A.
Affiliations
University of Bath (GB)
Venue
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Published
2013-07-24
Volume
110
Issue
34
Pages
13875-13879
ISSN
  • 0027-8424 (ISSN-L)
  • 1091-6490
OpenAlex
W2040344633
Cited by
262
References
78
Citations by year
2026: 14 · 2025: 18 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 19 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 23 · 2020: 24 · 2019: 38 · 2018: 26 · 2017: 24 · 2016: 23 · 2015: 17 · 2014: 11 · 2013: 2
FWCI
11.97
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
Leverhulme Trust (F/00 351/Z)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Evolution and Paleontology Studies
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics › Morphological variations and asymmetry
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Paleontology and Evolutionary Biology
Keywords
morphological disparity, macroevolutionary trends, center of gravity, mass extinction, Phanerozoic, apomorphies, developmental constraints
MeSH terms
Anatomy, Comparative, Biological Evolution, Models, Biological, Phylogeny, Species Specificity

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