Reading Yule in light of the history and present of macroevolution

• DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2410.11661
• Publication Date: 2024-10-15
• Authors: Matt Pennell; Ailene MacPherson
• Keywords: Macroevolution

Yule's 1925 paper introducing the branching model that bears his name was a landmark contribution to biodiversity sciences. In paper, Yule developed stochastic models explain observed distribution of species across genera and test hypotheses about relationship between clade age, diversity, geographic range. Here we discuss intellectual context in which produced this work, highlight key mathematical conceptual contributions using both more modern derivations, critically examine some assumptions work through lens. We then document strange trajectory history macroevolutionary thought how fundamental challenges he grappled with -- such as defining higher taxa, linking microevolutionary population dynamics rates, accounting for inconsistent taxonomic practices remain us century later.