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Habitats, stress, and evolutionary rates
Author(s) -
Parsons P. A.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
journal of evolutionary biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.289
H-Index - 128
eISSN - 1420-9101
pISSN - 1010-061X
DOI - 10.1046/j.1420-9101.1994.7030387.x
Subject(s) - biology , habitat , abiotic component , ecology , biota , resource (disambiguation) , selection (genetic algorithm) , biological evolution , ecological selection , computer network , genetics , artificial intelligence , computer science
Habitats of organisms are expressed as an interaction between stress intensity, magnitude of environmental fluctuations, and energy availability from resources. Under this model organisms should evolve broad biological properties defined by such physical characteristics. When energy is severely restricted under the continuing constant stress of adversity‐selection, or in widely fluctuating and highly stressful environments, little evolutionary change is expected; relict species and ‘living fossils’ are the respective expectations. In rather stable abiotic environments where resources are limited habitat preferences may develop leading to specialization and ultimately adaptive radiations. On the other hand major new innovations are more likely in highly disturbed resource‐rich habitats. Evidence from the living and fossil biota is presented which is consistent with these conclusions.