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Insect diversity in the fossil recordInsects possess a surprisingly extensive fossil record. Compilation of the geochronologic ranges of insect families demonstrates that their diversity exceeds that of preserved vertebrate tetrapods through 91 percent of their evolutionary history. The great diversity of insects was achieved not by high origination rates but rather by low extinction rates comparable to the low rates of slowly evolving marine invertebrate groups. The great radiation of modern insects began 245 million years ago and was not accelerated by the expansion of angiosperms during the Cretaceous period. The basic trophic machinery of insects was in place nearly 100 million years before angiosperms appeared in the fossil record.
Document ID
20040122066
Acquisition Source
Ames Research Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Labandeira, C. C.
(National Museum of Natural History Washington, DC 20560)
Sepkoski, J. J. Jr
Sepkoski JJ, J. r.
Date Acquired
August 22, 2013
Publication Date
July 16, 1993
Publication Information
Publication: Science
Volume: 261
Issue: 5119
ISSN: 0036-8075
Subject Category
Life Sciences (General)
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAGW-1693
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAG2-282
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
NASA Discipline Exobiology
NASA Program Exobiology
Non-NASA Center
NASA Discipline Number 52-40
Review
Review, Tutorial

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