Lecture 19 Punctuated Equilibrium.ppt

Lecture 19: Punctuated Equilibrium Background: paleontology: idiographic → nomothetic (descriptive → theoretical) Punctuated Equilibrium first introduced by: Mayr (1954): allopatric speciation model Application to paleontology → REVOLUTION! Tenets of Punctuated Equilibrium 1) neontology informs paleontology (understand past via present) 2) speciation is cladogenesis, not anagenesis “real speciation” vs. “phyletic speciation” 3) speciation by peripheral isolates 4) widespread pop’ns change slowly, if at all 5) sp. usually develop in geog. limited regions 6) sp. develop in stratigraphically limited extent 7) abrupt appearance of new spp. (fossil record) 8) adaptive change mostly during speciation 9) trends in adaptation: sp. selection (sp. sorting) Fossil Record punctuated stasis real, not an artifact of preservation Taphonomy: how orgs are preserved as fossils Geological Processes: sediment deposition (varies in time space) erosion compression hard vs. soft parts niches - skewed samples (characteristics of env’t) Paleontology phyletic gradualism anagenesis is most important “Species problem” (chronospecies - only morph) Bias in Literature Evidence supporting gradualism e.g. microscopic protoctists: radiolarians, diatoms, forams But characteristics of organisms: asexual or alternation of generations no genetic exchange among lineages enormous pop’ns: no local isolation ecophenotypic variation: no changes in gene freq.; responses to environment Problems... Large studies of bryozoans, molluscs, mammals do not fit gradualist model Stasis with sudden appearance of new forms “Punctuated Equilibrium” Neontology 1) Modern spp: mostly cladogenesis: multiplicat’n diversificat’n 2) Most common speciation: allopatric isolates 3) Speciation rare (prob extinction prob speciation) 4) Parent to daughter transition time: short 5) Sig. changes in daughter pop’n (founder effect) 6) Adap’ns in daughter pop’ns excluded from parental pop’n