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Comparative diversification dynamics among palaeocontinents during the Ordovician RadiationThe Ordovician Radiation was among the most extensive intervals of diversification in the history of life. However, a delineation of the proximal cause(s) of the Radiation remains elusive. Any such determination should involve an analysis of geographic overprints on diversification: did the Radiation occur randomly around the world or, alternatively, was it focused in particular geographic or depositional regimes? Here, I present a comparative evaluation of Ordovician diversification among several palaeocontinents to determine whether biotas associated with certain palaeocontinents exhibited different diversification patterns than others; in part, this involves a numerical "correction" to raw diversity trajectories. Clear disparities among palaeocontinents are indicated by the data, which appear to reflect differences in the extent of siliciclastic input partly in association with tectonic activity. Further testing will be required to fully substantiate the implication that siliciclastic influx was a predominant factor in the Ordovician Radiation, affecting a variety of higher taxa among all three Phanerozoic evolutionary faunas.
Document ID
20040089254
Acquisition Source
Headquarters
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Miller, A. I.
(University of Cincinnati OH 45221-0013, United States)
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1997
Publication Information
Publication: Geobios (Lyon, France). Memoire special
Volume: 20
ISSN: 0293-843X
Subject Category
Geosciences (General)
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAGW-3307
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
Non-NASA Center
NASA Discipline Exobiology

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