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Whilst This Planet Has Gone Cycling On: What Role for Periodic Astronomical Phenomena in Large-Scale Patterns in the History of Life?

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Earth and Life

Part of the book series: International Year of Planet Earth ((IYPE))

Abstract

One of the longstanding debates in the history of paleontology focuses on the issue of whether or not there have been long-term cycles (operating over tens of millions of years) in biodiversity and extinction. Here we consider the history of this debate by connecting the skein from Grabau up to 2008. We focus on the evidence for periodicity that has emerged thus far, and conclude that there is indeed some evidence that periodicity may be real, though of course more work is needed. We also comment on possible causal mechanisms, focusing especially on the motion of our solar system in our galaxy. Moreover, we consider the reasons why some scientists have opposed periodicity over the years. Finally, we consider the significance of this for our understanding of evolution and the history of life.

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Acknowledgements

We thank NSF DEB-0716162 (to BSL) for support of this research and N. Eldredge and M. Medvedev for discussions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, and Natural History Museum/Biodiversity Research Center, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, 66045, USA

    Bruce S. Lieberman

  2. Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, 66045, USA

    Adrian L. Melott

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  1. Bruce S. Lieberman
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  2. Adrian L. Melott
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bruce S. Lieberman .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Earth and Planetary Sciences, Macquarie University, 2109, Sydney, Australia

    John A. Talent

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Lieberman, B.S., Melott, A.L. (2012). Whilst This Planet Has Gone Cycling On: What Role for Periodic Astronomical Phenomena in Large-Scale Patterns in the History of Life?. In: Talent, J.A. (eds) Earth and Life. International Year of Planet Earth. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-3428-1_3

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