Re: Extinction (was Jurassic Intelligence)

[Peter Sheehan <sheehan@csd.uwm.edu>]

On Sat, 13 May 1995, Phillip Bigelow wrote:

> Regarding the intelligence issue and how it relates to evolution and
> extinction: 
>  All that Nature cares is that it's children (organisms) play by the rules. 
> (my opinion of what these rules are is given below.  
> Others may take exception.  Your milage may vary.  Break a bunch of these
> rules, and it's so-long-Charlie-osaurus.
> The list could also be called the "How to avoid going extinct scorecard"):
> 
>                 Rules of success for a long taxonomic life**** 
>    1) Maintain high genetic diversity within your species.
>    2) Have as many different species within your clade diversify to fill as
>       many ecological niches as possible. (alternatively, have a single
>       species fill as many ecological niches as possible). 
>    3) Maintain a high number of different species within your clade. 
>    4) If you must evolve, evolve into more generalized forms.  (or if you
>       are already generalized, stay that way). Do *not* evolve
>       into more specialized forms. 
> 

Dave Jablonski's work has clearly shown the the most important factor during 
the various extinction events has been wide geographic distribution.  
e.g. Science 253:754-757.  Certainly was true for brachiopods during the 
Late Ordovician extinction.