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Adaptive Radiations in the Context of Macroevolutionary Theory: A Paleontological Perspective

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Abstract

Adaptive radiations are often invoked anytime clades show significant bursts of diversification, but it is important to not simply assume that any radiating clade constitutes an adaptive radiation. In addition, several highly relevant macroevolutionary concepts including the Turnover Pulse Hypothesis, the Effect Hypothesis, exaptation, and species selection, have not been considered in the adaptive radiations literature. Here, these concepts are integrated into the theory of evolutionary radiations in general, and adaptive radiations in particular, and different types of evolutionary radiations are identified, including geographic radiations. Special emphasis is placed on considering the role that abiotic as opposed to biotic factors may play in motivating diversification during evolutionary radiations. Further, recent paleontological data suggesting that rather than organismal adaptation it may be principally abiotic factors, such as climate change and a taxon’s presence in a geographically complex region, that cause clades to diversify will be described. The fossil record, the source of the initial hallmark examples of adaptive radiation, now appears to show little concrete support for this phenomenon.

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Acknowledgments

Thanks to Maria Pia Miglietta, Francesco Santini, and Anuschka Faucci for inviting me to participate in this special issue of the journal. Thanks to Francine Abe and Ed Wiley for discussions on the subject of adaptive radiations, and to Rob Moyle, Katherine Willmore, and two anonymous reviewers for comments on an earlier version of this paper. This research was supported by NSF-DEB-0716162.

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  1. Department of Geology and Biodiversity Institute, University of Kansas, 1475 Jayhawk Blvd., 120 Lindley Hall, Lawrence, KS, 66045, USA

    Bruce S. Lieberman

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Lieberman, B.S. Adaptive Radiations in the Context of Macroevolutionary Theory: A Paleontological Perspective. Evol Biol 39, 181–191 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11692-012-9165-8

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