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Rates of size increase and of phyletic evolution

Nature volume 261, pages 694–696 (1976)Cite this article

Abstract

THE RATE of phyletic evolution (evolution of the non-branching, non-cladogenetic type) is highly correlated inversely with the overall population size of genera and species. Factors which can materially decrease overall population size include increases in one or more of the following: number of biogeographic entities; number of communities; degree of climatic differentiation; and degree of marine regression on the continents (smaller populations of shallow water, marine organisms with regression). When all of these factors act in one direction rates of phyletic evolution are high or low; when they interfere with each other rates are intermediate1,2.

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  1. Department of Geology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon

    A. J. BOUCOT

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  1. A. J. BOUCOT
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BOUCOT, A. Rates of size increase and of phyletic evolution. Nature 261, 694–696 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1038/261694a0

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