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Evolutionary legacies in contemporary tetrapod imperilment
Author(s) -
Greenberg Dan A.,
Pyron R. Alexander,
Johnson Liam G. W.,
Upham Nathan S.,
Jetz Walter,
Mooers Arne Ø.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
ecology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.852
H-Index - 265
eISSN - 1461-0248
pISSN - 1461-023X
DOI - 10.1111/ele.13868
Subject(s) - extinction (optical mineralogy) , tetrapod (structure) , origination , ecology , genetic algorithm , biology , clade , range (aeronautics) , lineage (genetic) , extinction event , evolutionary biology , phylogenetic tree , paleontology , population , biological dispersal , demography , computer network , biochemistry , materials science , sociology , computer science , gene , composite material
The Tree of Life will be irrevocably reshaped as anthropogenic extinctions continue to unfold. Theory suggests that lineage evolutionary dynamics, such as age since origination, historical extinction filters and speciation rates, have influenced ancient extinction patterns – but whether these factors also contribute to modern extinction risk is largely unknown. We examine evolutionary legacies in contemporary extinction risk for over 4000 genera, representing ~30,000 species, from the major tetrapod groups: amphibians, birds, turtles and crocodiles, squamate reptiles and mammals. We find consistent support for the hypothesis that extinction risk is elevated in lineages with higher recent speciation rates. We subsequently test, and find modest support for, a primary mechanism driving this pattern: that rapidly diversifying clades predominantly comprise range‐restricted, and extinction‐prone, species. These evolutionary patterns in current imperilment may have important consequences for how we manage the erosion of biological diversity across the Tree of Life.