CoChat
Sign Up
Cited by 172Evolution and Paleontology StudiesEvolution and Genetic DynamicsPlant Diversity and Evolution

SCALE AND HIERARCHY IN MACROEVOLUTION

Open access
JABLONSKI, DAVID·2007·Palaeontology
DOI 10.1111/j.1475-4983.2006.00615.x
Open this paper in CoChat — free accountOpen PDF

Abstract

Abstract: Scale and hierarchy must be incorporated into any conceptual framework for the study of macroevolution, i.e. evolution above the species level. Expansion of temporal and spatial scales reveals evolutionary patterns and processes that are virtually inaccessible to, and unpredictable from, short‐term, localized observations. These larger‐scale phenomena range from evolutionary stasis at the species level and the mosaic assembly of complex morphologies in ancestral forms to the non‐random distribution in time and space of the origin of major evolutionary novelties, as exemplified by the Cambrian explosion and post‐extinction recoveries of metazoans, and the preferential origin of major marine groups in onshore environments and tropical waters. Virtually all of these phenomena probably involve both ecological and developmental factors, but the integration of these components with macroevolutionary theory has only just begun. Differential survival and reproduction of units can occur at several levels within a biological hierarchy that includes DNA sequences, organisms, species and clades. Evolution by natural selection can occur at any level where there is heritable variation that affects birth and death of units by virtue of interaction with the environment. This dynamic can occur when selfish DNA sequences replicate disproportionately within genomes, when organisms enjoy fitness advantages within populations (classical Darwinian selection), when differential speciation or extinction occurs within clades owing to organismic properties (effect macroevolution), and when differential speciation or extinction occurs within clades owing to emergent, species‐level properties (in the strict sense species selection). Operationally, emergent species‐level properties such as geographical range can be recognized by testing whether their macroevolutionary effects are similar regardless of the different lower‐level factors that produce them. Large‐scale evolutionary trends can be driven by transformation of species, preferential production of species in a given direction, differential origination or extinction, or any combination of these; the potential for organismic traits to hitch‐hike on other factors that promote speciation or damp extinction is high. Additional key attributes of macroevolutionary dynamics within biological hierarchies are that (1) hierarchical levels are linked by upward and downward causation, so that emergent properties at a focal level do not impart complete independence; (2) hierarchical effects are asymmetrical, so that dynamics at a given focal level need not propagate upwards, but will always cascade downwards; and (3) rates are generally, although not always, faster at lower hierarchical levels. Temporal and spatial patterns in the origin of major novelties and higher taxa are significantly discordant from those at the species and genus levels, suggesting complex hierarchical effects that remain poorly understood. Not only are many of the features promoting survivorship during background times ineffective during mass extinctions, but also they are replaced in at least some cases by higher‐level, irreducible attributes such as clade‐level geographical range. The incorporation of processes that operate across hierarchical levels and a range of temporal and spatial scales has expanded and enriched our understanding of evolution.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1111/j.1475-4983.2006.00615.x

Cites

305 of 305 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Claims the paper makes

0 of 153 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged

  • Findingreasoning

    Empirical extrapolation appears to break down, as shown by the mismatch between the rapid net change potential of most populations and the prevalence of net morphological stasis in many lineages over long time-scales.

    “Empirical extrapolation appears to break down, for example, in the mismatch between the demonstrated potential of most populations for rapid net change and the prevalence of net morphological stasis in many lineages over long time-scales.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingcitation

    Geographical ranges are heritable among species within developmental types for Late Cretaceous molluscs.

    “geographical ranges are heritable among species within developmental types for Late Cretaceous molluscs”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Jablonski and Hunt 2006

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Findingcitation

    The relation between geographical range and molluscan species duration is significant even within developmental categories.

    “First, the relation between geographical range and molluscan species duration is significant even within developmental categories”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Jablonski and Hunt 2006

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Findingcitation

    When the observational scale is expanded to the myr timescale, speciation rate per species per myr is inversely related to the median geographical range of constituent species.

    “When the observational scale is expanded to the myr timescale, speciation rate per species per myr (Lm.y) is inversely related to median geographical range of constituent species (from Jablonski and Roy 2003).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Jablonski and Roy 2003

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Findingcitation

    There is a significant inverse relation between geographical range, measured by number of biogeographic provinces occupied, and extinction intensity in marine bivalves for the end-Cretaceous extinction.

    “significant inverse relation between geographical range (as measured by number of biographic provinces occupied) and extinction intensity in marine bivalves for the end-Cretaceous extinction (after Jablonski and Raup 1995).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Jablonski and Raup 1995

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims. 41
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 27

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingcitation

    Palaeontological data can test per-taxon speciation rates against maximum geographical ranges within lineages, circumventing the net diversification problem, and show a highly significant inverse relation between geographical range and speciation rate in marine gastropods.

    “Palaeontological data, however, can test per-taxon speciation rates against maximum geographical ranges of species within lineages, circumventing this problem and showing a highly significant inverse relation between geographical range and speciation rate, at least in marine gastropods”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Jablonski and Roy 2003

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

    Findingnone given

    All possible combinations of evolutionary tempo and mode have been recorded from the fossil record.

    “All possible combinations of evolutionary tempo and mode have been recorded from the fossil record.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: The fossil record is adequate to document the full range of combinations of evolutionary tempo and mode.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Findingnone given

    Among the groups that have taken to the air, the number of species varies by several orders of magnitude, and not all of them are still with us.

    “the number of species varies by several orders of magnitude among those groups, and not all of them are still with us.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingcitation

    The net macroevolutionary trend towards size increase in the Eocene mammal Hyopsodus emerges from an underlying dynamic containing three gradual size increases, one punctuational size increase, one period of size stasis and three gradual size decreases, i.e. gradualistic change was random with respect to the macroevolutionary outcome.

    “the net macroevolutionary trend towards size increase in the Eocene mammal Hyopsodus emerges from an underlying dynamic containing three gradual size increases, one punctuational size increase, one period of size stasis and three gradual size decreases, i.e. gradualistic change was random with respect to the macroevolutionary outcome”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Bookstein et al. 1978

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    In modelling stratigraphic duration as a function of geographical range and/or larval mode, larval mode improves the fit relative to the simplest model, but geographical range as the predictor performs much better, and adding larval mode as a second predictor yields only a slight, non-significant increase in log-likelihood.

    “Larval mode does improve the fit relative to the simplest model, but the model using geographical range as the predictor performs much better, and there is only a slight, non-significant increase in log-likelihood when adding larval mode as a second predictor”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Expanding the temporal scale provides abundant evidence for spatial volatility of species distributions, with individualistic behaviour of most species through the Pleistocene and Holocene generating transient associations that lack precise modern equivalents.

    “It gives abundant evidence for the spatial volatility of species distributions, with the individualistic behaviour of most species through the Pleistocene and Holocene generating transient associations that lack precise equivalents on the modern landscape”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Bennett 1997

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Jackson and Overpeck 2000

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Davis and Shaw 2001

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisenone given

    The logic of natural selection and other evolutionary forces need not reside exclusively at the organismic level; differential success of heritable variation through environmental interaction also occurs at higher and lower levels.

    “By contrast, some authors have argued (convincingly, in my view) that the logic of natural selection and other evolutionary forces need not reside exclusively at the organismic level: differential success of heritable variation owing to interaction with the environment, the Darwinian dynamic, also occurs at higher and lower levels.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Analyses restricted to a single time plane can be powerful but can also mislead or yield multiple alternatives because they usually deal with net diversification rates rather than raw speciation and extinction rates.

    “Analyses restricted to a single time plane can be powerful, but can also be misleading or yield multiple alternatives because almost always they must deal with net diversification rates rather than the fundamental dynamic variables of raw speciation and extinction rates.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based). May combine two claims.

    Interpretationnone given
    § SCALE AND HIERARCHY IN MACROEVOLUTION

    Most large-scale macroevolutionary phenomena probably involve both ecological and developmental factors, and integrating these with macroevolutionary theory has only just begun.

    “Virtually all of these phenomena probably involve both ecological and developmental factors, but the integration of these components with macroevolutionary theory has only just begun.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

    Interpretationnone given
    § SCALE AND HIERARCHY IN MACROEVOLUTION

    Scale and hierarchy are essential components of any conceptual framework for macroevolutionary analysis.

    “Scale and hierarchy must be incorporated into any conceptual framework for the study of macroevolution, i.e. evolution above the species level.”
    • Also stated in: § SCALE AND HIERARCHY · plain
      “Scale and hierarchy are essential components of the conceptual framework for macroevolutionary analysis.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationnone given
    § SCALE AND HIERARCHY IN MACROEVOLUTION

    Hierarchical effects are asymmetrical: dynamics at a focal level need not propagate upwards but will always cascade downwards.

    “hierarchical effects are asymmetrical, so that dynamics at a given focal level need not propagate upwards, but will always cascade downwards;”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationnone given
    § SCALE AND HIERARCHY IN MACROEVOLUTION

    Many features that promote survivorship during background times are ineffective during mass extinctions and are sometimes replaced by higher-level irreducible attributes such as clade-level geographical range.

    “Not only are many of the features promoting survivorship during background times ineffective during mass extinctions, but also they are replaced in at least some cases by higher-level, irreducible attributes such as clade-level geographical range.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

    Interpretationnone given
    § SCALE AND HIERARCHY IN MACROEVOLUTION

    Rates are generally, though not always, faster at lower hierarchical levels.

    “rates are generally, although not always, faster at lower hierarchical levels.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Present-day populations respond greatly to directional selection over the short run, whereas palaeontological observations on many species show net stasis and fairly stable boundaries to phenotypic change through time.

    “whereas present-day populations show great responsiveness to directional selection over the short run, palaeontological observations on many species show a tendency to net stasis and fairly stable boundaries to phenotypic change through time”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Jackson and Cheetham 1999

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Gould 2002

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Eldredge et al. 2005

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Palaeontological data can provide an empirical foundation for some clades and can test the power and accuracy of inferential methods using independent estimates of ancestral traits.

    “Indeed, palaeontological data can both provide the necessary empirical foundation for some clades, and test the power and accuracy of inferential methods with independent estimates of ancestral traits”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Polly 2001

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Webster and Purvis 2002a, b

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Finarelli and Flynn 2006

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

    Interpretationnone given
    § SCALE AND HIERARCHY IN MACROEVOLUTION

    Emergent species-level properties such as geographical range can be recognized operationally by testing whether their macroevolutionary effects are similar regardless of the different lower-level factors that produce them.

    “Operationally, emergent species-level properties such as geographical range can be recognized by testing whether their macroevolutionary effects are similar regardless of the different lower-level factors that produce them.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Inferences about ancestral continuous character states are highly model-dependent and generally have wide confidence intervals.

    “Inferences on these character states are highly model-dependent and are generally saddled with wide confidence intervals”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Cunningham et al. 1998

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Martins 2000

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Pagel et al. 2004

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisenone given

    Monoplacophora were often used to infer character states at the start of molluscan radiations but are now understood to be highly derived.

    “the 'living fossil' members of the ancient molluscan class Monoplacophora, which are limpet-like forms that are apparently the outgroup to the rest of the living conchiferans (bivalves, gastropods, scaphopods, cephalopods), were often used to infer character states at the start of the great molluscan radiations but are now understood to be highly derived”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based). May combine two claims.

    Premisenone given
    § SCALE AND HIERARCHY IN MACROEVOLUTION

    Large-scale evolutionary trends can be driven by transformation of species, preferential production of species in a given direction, differential origination or extinction, or any combination of these.

    “Large-scale evolutionary trends can be driven by transformation of species, preferential production of species in a given direction, differential origination or extinction, or any combination of these;”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Molecular phylogenetic methods provide an independent but not infallible basis for inferring tree topologies, yet they are largely uninformative about phenotypes at key nodes.

    “Molecular phylogenetic methods provide an independent (though hardly infallible) basis for inferring evolutionary tree topologies but are largely uninformative about the phenotypes residing at key nodes”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Erwin et al. 1997

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Erwin and Davidson 2002

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Valentine 2006

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationnone given
    § SCALE AND HIERARCHY IN MACROEVOLUTION

    Temporal and spatial patterns in the origin of major novelties and higher taxa are significantly discordant from species- and genus-level patterns, suggesting complex hierarchical effects that remain poorly understood.

    “Temporal and spatial patterns in the origin of major novelties and higher taxa are significantly discordant from those at the species and genus levels, suggesting complex hierarchical effects that remain poorly understood.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Comparative developmental analysis can illuminate evolutionary transformations, but rampant co-option of regulatory genes makes inferences about nodal forms extremely difficult.

    “Comparative developmental analysis can shed light on evolutionary transformations, but the rampant co-option of regulatory genes can make inferences about nodal forms extremely difficult,”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Valentine et al. 1999

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Erwin and Davidson 2002

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Valentine 2004

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

    Premisenone given

    Strict species selection is differential speciation or extinction within clades caused by interaction of emergent species properties with the biotic and physical environment.

    “Third, there is differential speciation or extinction (i.e.differential survival and reproduction of species within clades) by virtue of the interaction of the emergent properties of species (such as geographical range or genetic population structure) with the biotic and physical environment.This is species selection in the strict sense.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    This operational approach is similar to Brandon's screening-off and has often been tacitly applied at the organismic level.

    “This approach, which is similar to Brandon's (1990) application of the statistical concept of 'screening-off', has often been tacitly applied at the organismic level.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Brandon 1990

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Interpretationreasoning

    Apparent temporal coherence in Pleistocene and Holocene assemblages could be a passive consequence of sampling artefacts, overlapping tolerances, and rates of displacement.

    “The apparent temporal coherence in these assemblages could just as readily be a passive consequence of sampling artefacts, overlapping tolerances and rates of displacement,”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

    Premisecitation

    A feature can be treated as emergent at a given level if its evolutionary consequences do not depend on how it is generated at lower levels.

    “One relatively straightforward operational approach to identifying emergent properties is to treat a feature as emergent at a given level if its evolutionary consequences do not depend on how the feature is generated at lower levels”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Jablonski 2000

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Jablonski and Hunt 2006

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Mean body size and pelt coloration may validly characterize species but are aggregate properties, essentially statistical statements about organisms within the species.

    “For example, mean body size or pelt coloration may validly characterize species but are essentially statistical statements about organisms within the species; these have been termed aggregate properties to distinguish them from emergent ones”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Vrba and Eldredge 1984

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Interactors need not be absolutely cohesive or discrete; requiring that would exclude even organisms, so interactors reside at many levels in the biological hierarchy.

    “The cohesion or discreteness of the interactor need not be absolute; indeed, such a requirement would exclude even organisms, the paradigmatic interactors: interactors thus reside at many levels in the biological hierarchy”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Hull 1980

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Hull 2001

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Eldredge 1985

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

    Interpretationnone given

    The biota is proving in many cases to be more dynamic than the earth beneath it.

    “the biota is proving in many cases to be more dynamic than the earth beneath it.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Evolution involves both replication and interaction, and many authors have argued that their interplay can shape lineages at any hierarchical level.

    “Evolution thus involves both replication (reproduction of 'individuals' with heritability) and interaction (fitness differentials among 'individuals'), and many authors have argued that the interplay of those two processes can shape lineages at any hierarchical level”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Wright 1959

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Lewontin 1970

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Hull 1980

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

    Premisecitation

    Effect macroevolution is differential extinction or speciation within clades caused by interaction of organismic phenotypes with the biotic and physical environment.

    “Second, there is differential extinction or speciation (i.e.differential survival and reproduction of species within clades) by virtue of the interaction of the phenotypes of bodies with the biotic and physical environment.This is effect macroevolution as defined by Vrba (1980;Vrba and Gould 1986).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Vrba 1980

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Vrba and Gould 1986

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisenone given

    Net evolutionary stasis is extraordinarily frequent through the history of morphospecies despite the short-term malleability of most populations.

    “The most famous of these is the extraordinary frequency of net evolutionary stasis through the history of morphospecies despite the short-term malleability of most populations.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    Lewontin's prescription for evolution by natural selection requires heritable variation in traits that influence the fitness of units at a given level.

    “Lewontin's (1970) classic prescription for evolution by natural selection requires heritable variation in traits that influence fitness of units at a given level.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Lewontin 1970

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    Three evolutionary processes can occur simultaneously: conventional Darwinian selection, effect macroevolution, and strict species selection.

    “For the purposes of this discussion, consider three evolutionary processes that can occur simultaneously.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Vrba 1980

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Vrba and Gould 1986

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Broad-sense species selection groups effect macroevolution and strict species selection, with the key criterion being emergent fitness at the species level.

    “The second and third processes are often grouped into broad-sense species selection, with the key criteria being emergent fitness at the species level, i.e. differential birth and death (replication) rather than emergent properties (interaction) at the species level”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Stanley 1979

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Gould 2002

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Grantham 1995

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationcitation

    The mechanism of replication is less important than the descriptive, essentially statistical issue of heritability, which can be addressed at any hierarchical level.

    “Thus, the mechanism of replication is less important than the descriptive, essentially statistical issue of heritability (Mayr 1982;Wagner 1988Wagner , 1990)), which can also be addressed at any hierarchical level.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Mayr 1982

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Wagner 1988

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationcitation

    Dispersal events, and presumably regional extinctions, are probabilistic and not truly random.

    “such dispersal events, and presumably regional extinctions, are probabilistic and not truly random”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Cook and Crisp 2005

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationnone given

    Although differential speciation or extinction may generally be too slow to construct a complex adaptation such as a wing, dynamics at the species level can determine the persistence and number of genealogical units bearing wings within and among clades, and even the long-term persistence of such a trait.

    “dynamics at the species level can determine the persistence and number of genealogical units bearing wings within and among clades, and even the long-term persistence of such a trait”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    The biased replication of selfish genetic elements with each cell cycle is rapid relative to the generation times of most metazoan organisms, which in turn are brief relative to the speciation rates of most metazoan clades.

    “the biased replication of selfish genetic elements with each cell cycle is rapid relative to the generation times of most metazoan organisms, which in turn are brief relative to the speciation rates of most metazoan clades”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Gregory and Mable 2005

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Masterson 1994

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Tate et al. 2005

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    The number of replicating units decreases going up the hierarchy so that chance effects may become more important.

    “the number of replicating units decreases going up the hierarchy so that chance effects may become more important”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Stanley 1979

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Levinton et al. 1986

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Levinton 2001

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisereasoning

    Such long-term changes can arise via a wide range of mechanisms, and different dynamics can operate simultaneously, in opposition or in concert, at different levels.

    “such long-term changes can arise via a wide range of mechanisms, and that different dynamics can operate simultaneously, in opposition or in concert, at different levels”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Geographical range is widely regarded as an emergent property at the species level and is inversely related to both extinction and speciation rates.

    “In contrast to body size, geographical range is widely regarded as an emergent property at the species level, inversely related to both extinction and speciation rates”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Jablonski 1987

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Brown 1995

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Grantham 1995

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    The propagation of effects is asymmetrical: dynamics at lower levels need not impinge on higher levels but dynamics at higher levels must always propagate downwards.

    “the propagation of effects is asymmetrical: dynamics at lower levels need not impinge on higher levels but dynamics at higher levels must always propagate downwards”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Salthe 1985 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Valentine and May 1996

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisenone given

    A trend may be underlain by transformation of its constituent species, by preferential origination of new species, by random speciation followed by differential survival or proliferation in the direction of the trend, or by any combination of these very different processes.

    “a trend may be underlain by transformation of its constituent species, by preferential origination of new species, by random speciation followed by differential survival or proliferation in the direction of the trend, or by any combination of these very different processes”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based). May combine two claims.

    Interpretationnone given

    In extreme cases, taxa can weather a mass extinction only to disappear a few million years later, or fall into marginal roles.

    “In extreme cases, taxa can weather a mass extinction only to disappear a few million years later, or fall into marginal roles.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

    Interpretationnone given

    Clades that survive mass extinctions but fail to participate in the evolutionary recovery are more puzzling than other survivors.

    “More puzzling are the clades that survive mass extinctions but fail to participate in the evolutionary recovery.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based). May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Most clades probably experience more complex pressures, and those may change over geological time-scales.

    “most clades probably experience more complex pressures, and those may change over geological time-scales”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Bivalves and mammals produce more new genera relative to estimated speciation rates during postextinction recoveries than expected from normal times.

    “as in Patzkowsk's (1995) finding that bivalves and mammals produce more new genera relative to estimated speciation rates during postextinction recoveries than expected from 'normal' times.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Patzkowsk's (1995)

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisereasoning

    Every new clade of high rank must begin with a new species, but when and where those clade-founding species occur evidently depends strongly on ecological context.

    “every new clade of high rank must begin with a new species, but when and where those clade-founding species occur evidently depends strongly on ecological context”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Such approaches have been little explored and will face difficulties pinpointing the focal level of selection, but are likely to produce novel insights.

    “Such approaches have been little explored and will face difficulties pinpointing the focal level of selection, but are likely to produce novel insights”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    When within-species anagenetic changes are significant, they can be reinforced by higher-level processes, or they may be unrelated to, or even counter to, the overall trend.

    “When within-species anagenetic changes are significant, they can be reinforced by higher-level processes, or they may be unrelated to, or even counter to, the overall trend”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based).

    Interpretationnone given

    Historical context and the biological raw material available to a clade must be important to many aspects of macroevolution.

    “Historical context and the biological raw material available to a clade must be important to many aspects of macroevolution, and I have barely touched upon those aspects here.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    The macroevolutionary principles reviewed do not invalidate the operation of the traditional neodarwinian mechanisms, but expand evolutionary theory to a richer and more realistic picture of processes across a range of temporal and spatial scales and across hierarchical levels.

    “macroevolutionary principles reviewed here in no way invalidate the operation of the traditional neodarwinian mechanisms, but they expand evolutionary theory to a richer and more realistic picture of processes across a range of temporal and spatial scales and across hierarchical levels.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationcitation

    Recoveries need not involve an across-the-board expansion of a surviving clade in morphospace, but can instead involve only subregions of the occupied morphospace or be channelled in just one or a few directions.

    “Recoveries need not involve an across-the-board expansion of a surviving clade in morphospace, but can instead involve only subregions of the occupied morphospace or be channelled in just one or a few directions”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Dommergues et al. 1996

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Lockwood 2004

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites McGowan 2004a

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Interpretationcitation

    If mass-extinction survivorship is merely indifferent, rather than truly antithetical, to many of the factors that promote success during normal times, then some preadaptation to mass-extinction drivers should arise by chance.

    “It is worth keeping in mind that if mass-extinction survivorship is simply indifferent, rather than truly antithetical, to many of the factors that promote success during the normal times that constitute the vast bulk of geological time, then some 'preadaptation' to mass extinction drivers should occur by chance (see discussion by Jablonski 2005a).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Jablonski 2005a

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationnone given

    Long-term post-extinction successes are difficult to predict from the survivors of mass extinctions, just as survivors of mass extinctions can be difficult to predict from pre-extinction successes.

    “Just as survivors of mass extinctions can be difficult to predict from pre-extinction successes, long-term post-extinction successes are difficult to predict from the survivors of mass extinctions.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

    Interpretationnone given

    The post-extinction trajectories of clades depend upon the interaction of intrinsic diversification rates, biotic interactions and physical environmental factors, along with stochastic effects.

    “Presumably, as with any large-scale biotic upheaval, the post-extinction trajectories of clades depend upon the interaction of intrinsic diversification rates (as set by organismic and higher-level traits), biotic interactions and physical environmental factors, along with stochastic effects.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based).

    Interpretationnone given

    Recovery dynamics are poorly understood, in part because they have received so little attention from a comparative standpoint.

    “Recovery dynamics are poorly understood, in part because they have received so little attention from a comparative standpoint.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Interpretationcitation

    Much of the comparative biology literature attempts to grapple with the possibility of phylogenetic effects, but it has rarely been tested palaeontologically.

    “Much of the comparative biology literature is an attempt to grapple with this possibility, phrased in terms of phylogenetic effects, but it has rarely been tested palaeontologically (but seeWagner 1996).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Wagner 1996

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

    Interpretationreasoning

    The origins of major novelties and higher taxa need to be evaluated in terms of both scale and hierarchy.

    “The origins of major novelties and higher taxa need to be evaluated in terms of both scale and hierarchy”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
60 of 60

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The fossil record is adequate to document the full range of combinations of evolutionary tempo and mode.

    “All possible combinations of evolutionary tempo and mode have been recorded from the fossil record.”
1 of 1

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?

  • The expectation of morphological novelty differs depending on the specific drivers of an individual adaptive radiation.

    “Thus, the expectation of morphological novelty differs depending on the specific drivers of an individual adaptive radiation [74–80].”

    From Novelty and Innovation in the History of Life (2015) · cites this paper as [80]

    In “Origin of Novelties” (page not supplied), Jablonski considers developmental and ecological factors as possible drivers of bursts in morphological disparity, but says their relative roles remain unresolved. This supports the idea that drivers matter to novelty, but the paper does not establish how expectations of novelty differ among individual adaptive radiations. (LLM, conf=0.79)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

  • A cited publication year differs from its reference entry

    Minor

    The text cites Arnold and Fristrup as a 1992 publication, but the corresponding reference entry gives 1982.

  • Chapter pages exceed the stated length of its book

    Minor

    The reference places a chapter on pages 348-385 of a book stated to have only 344 pages.

2 of 2

Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

4 of the 309 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.

Research works printed but not linked: 33

  1. ARONSON R. B., 1994, Scale‐independent biological interactions in the marine environment, Oceanography and Marine Biology: an Annual Review, 32, 435
  2. BAMBACH R. K., 2000, Paleobiology, 1
  3. BROWN J. H., 1995, Macroecology, 269
  4. 10.1666/0094-8373(2002)028 · DOI
  5. COYNE J. A., 2004, Speciation, 545
  6. DAWKINS R., 1989, Artificial life, 201
  7. 10.1666/0094-8373(2000)026 · DOI
  8. ELDREDGE N., 1989, Macroevolutionary dynamics, 226
  9. ERWIN D. H., 2005, Evolving form and function: fossils and development, 67
  10. FRECKLETON R. P., 2003, Macroecology, concepts and consequences, 391
  11. GOULD S. J., 1982, Perspectives on evolution, 83
  12. HALLGRIMSSON B., 2005, Variation, 567
  13. HARNIK P. G., 2006, International Congress on Bivalvia, Scientific Program and Abstracts, 42
  14. HUNT G., 2002, Macroevolutionary consequences of phenotypic variation: a test using the deep‐sea ostracode genus Poseidonamicus, Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Programs, 34, 33
  15. 10.1666/0094-8373(2004)030 · DOI
  16. JABLONSKI D., 1986, Larval ecology and macroevolution of marine invertebrates, Bulletin of Marine Science, 39, 565
  17. JACKSON S. T., 2004, Frontiers of biogeography, 47
  18. 10.1666/0094-8373(2004)030 · DOI
  19. 10.1666/0094-8373(2004)030 · DOI
  20. McNAMARA K. J., 1990, Evolutionary trends, 368
  21. 10.1666/0094-8373(2000)026 · DOI
  22. ROOPNARINE P. D., 2005, The likelihood of stratophenetic‐based hypotheses of genealogical succession, Special Papers in Palaeontology, 73, 143
  23. ROSENZWEIG M. L., 2004, Frontiers of biogeography, 324
  24. SEPKOSKI J. J., 1996, Evolutionary paleobiology, 211
  25. STANLEY S. M., 1979, Macroevolution, 332
  26. SUTER S. J., 1988, Echinoderm biology, 818
  27. VERMEIJ G. J., 1996, Adaptation, 363
  28. VRBA E. S., 1980, Evolution, species, and fossils: how does life evolve?, South African Journal of Science, 76, 61
  29. VRBA E. S., 1989, Levels of selection and sorting with special reference to the species level, Oxford Surveys in Evolutionary Biology, 6, 111
  30. WAGNER G. P., 1990, The domestication of replicators: a neo‐Darwinian commentary on the concept of replicator selection, Evolutionary Trends in Plants, 4, 71
  31. WAKE M. H., 2004, Integrative biology: the nexus of development, ecology, and evolution, Biology International, 46, 1
  32. WEBSTER M., 2005, Do trilobites show declining intraspecific variability?, Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Programs, 37, 486
  33. WHITTAKER R. J., 2003, Macroecology, concepts and consequences, 107

Cited by

Sorted by citations

Related

Authors
JABLONSKI, D.
Affiliations
University of Chicago (US)
Corresponding author
JABLONSKI, DAVID
ORCID
JABLONSKI, DAVID
Venue
Palaeontology
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2007-01
Volume
50
Issue
1
Pages
87-109
ISSN
  • 0031-0239 (ISSN-L)
  • 1475-4983
DOI
10.1111/j.1475-4983.2006.00615.x
OpenAlex
W2110891168
Semantic Scholar
3a31025e070434d76593fd165b24006ab766a5e1
Cited by
172
References
309
Citations by year
2026: 15 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 22 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 14 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 6
FWCI
8.56
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor, 17 d)
Locations
  • Palaeontology (publishedVersion)
  • reroDoc Digital Library (submittedVersion)
Funders
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Evolution and Paleontology Studies
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics › Plant Diversity and Evolution
Keywords
macroevolution, biological hierarchy, species selection, emergent properties, speciation and extinction, evolutionary innovation, Cambrian explosion, post-extinction recovery, metazoan origin, geographic range, evolutionary rates, natural selection

About these checks

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.

Claims read by deepseek-v4.1-flash under definition version 3 (extract-v3) on 2026-10-07.

Classified by jev-1.13-20260917 (gold-guideline-v0.2) on 2026-10-07.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›

Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review