Document of bibliographic reference 282432

BibliographicReference record

Type

Bibliographic resource

Type of document

Journal article

BibLvlCode

AS

Title

Predicting extinction from fossil trajectories of geographical ranges in benthic marine molluscs

Abstract

AimThe geographical ranges of marine taxa wax and wane in a nearly symmetrical fashion over their durations. We use this pattern as well as the age distribution of genera to predict the time of extinction of extant genera of benthic marine molluscs.LocationA global occurrence database (Paleobiology Database) of fossil marine molluscs from the Mesozoic and Cenozoic eras was used for this study.MethodsFor the geographical range method, we determined the average trajectories of geographical range size for extinct genera of bivalves and gastropods. The maxima of these trajectories were used as landmarks for predicting the time of extinction for extant genera. Prediction was done by cross-multiplication, using the time elapsed until the maximum was reached and the position of the landmark. For the duration–frequency method, we calculated the time of extinction based on probabilities derived from the frequency distribution of stratigraphic ranges (durations) of all extinct genera. The accuracy and precision of predictions were tested with extinct genera and then applied to extant genera.ResultsOn average, bivalve and gastropod extinct genera reached their maximum geographical range size at 62% and 50% of their total duration. The accuracy of predictions ranged from −3.1 to 11.0 million years (Myr) for both groups, and the precision ranged from 13.6 to 19.5 Myr. Only a small subset of extant genera was suitable for prediction with the geographical range method, mainly because the geographical ranges of most extant genera are still rising on geological time-scales. The second method provided a similar prediction quality, but showed a substantial decrease in quality when predicting long-duration (> 100 Myr) genera.Main conclusionsThe mean probability for an accurate prediction using the geographical range approach is 57% with a precision of ± 15 Myr. Prediction is possible only for genera whose peak geographical range has already elapsed (17% of extant bivalves, 16% of extant gastropods). The duration–frequency approach does not have this prerequisite and is therefore applicable to many more genera, but prediction quality declines with duration. The two methods therefore complement each other and can supplement the various efforts used to estimate extinction risk.

WebOfScience code

https://www.webofscience.com/wos/woscc/full-record/WOS:000316325500015

Bibliographic citation

Tietje, M.; Kiessling, W. (2013). Predicting extinction from fossil trajectories of geographical ranges in benthic marine molluscs. J. Biogeogr. 40(4): 790-799. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jbi.12030

Topic

Marine

Is peer reviewed

true