Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Raia P
PROVIDER: S-EPMC4978992 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Aug
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Raia P P Carotenuto F F Mondanaro A A Castiglione S S Passaro F F Saggese F F Melchionna M M Serio C C Alessio L L Silvestro D D Fortelius M M
Scientific reports 20160810
Animal clades tend to follow a predictable path of waxing and waning during their existence, regardless of their total species richness or geographic coverage. Clades begin small and undifferentiated, then expand to a peak in diversity and range, only to shift into a rarely broken decline towards extinction. While this trajectory is now well documented and broadly recognised, the reasons underlying it remain obscure. In particular, it is unknown why clade extinction is universal and occurs with ...[more]