The spatial structure of Phanerozoic marine animal diversity

• DOI: 10.1126/science.aay8309
• Publication Date: 2020-10-21T23:21:06Z
• Authors: R. A. Close; R. B. J. Benson; E. E. Saupe; M. E. Clapham; R. J. Butler
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; Aquatic Organisms; 03 medical and health sciences; Fossils; Animals; Paleontology; Biodiversity; 14. Life underwater

Across time, but also across space Fossils, especially those from marine systems, have long been used to estimate changes in patterns of diversity over time. However, fossils are patchy their occurrence, so such temporal estimates generally not included variations due space. Such a singular examination has the potential simplify, or even misrepresent, patterns. Close et al. spatially explicit approach measure time and They found that, like modern varies considerably space, with reefs increasing levels. Accounting for this spatial-environmental variation will shed new light on study Science , issue p. 420