Evidence Brian O’Meara EEB464 Fall 2013 Model Credit: Tyler Keillor, photograph by Ximena Erickson, from
Learning objectives Think like a macroevolutionary biologist/paleontologist and reconstruct a community Learn how biologists gather evidence for macroevolutionary processes
Break into groups of three. What do your “fossils” tell you? What species live there [and not just the plants]? What’s the climate like? What else can you glean from them? (wash hands after class)
Molecular fossil Trace fossil Body fossil Phylogenetics Extant organisms Experiments
Derenne et al. Molecular evidence for life in the 3.5 billion year old Warrawoona chert. Earth and Planetary Science Letters (2008) vol. 272 (1-2) pp
Kuypers et al. Massive expansion of marine archaea during a mid-Cretaceous oceanic anoxic event. Science (2001)
Hannes Grobe
JENSEN. Predation by early Cambrian trilobites on infaunal worms-evidence from the Swedish Mickwitzia Sandstone. Lethaia (1990) Trilobite burrow Worm burrow
© (c) CanWest MediaWorks Publications Inc.:
Currano et al. Sharply increased insect herbivory during the Paleocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum. PNAS (2008)
Prasad et al. Dinosaur coprolites and the early evolution of grasses and grazers. Science (2005) vol. 310 (5751) pp North Dakota Geological Survey
plants-extrafloral.html Pemberton. Fossil extrafloral nectaries, evidence for the ant-guard antiherbivore defense in an Oligocene Populus. American Journal of Botany (1992)
Butterfield. Leanchoilia guts and the interpretation of three-dimensional structures in Burgess Shale-type fossils. Paleobiology (2002)
Wilson et al. Predation upon Hatchling Dinosaurs by a New Snake from the Late Cretaceous of India. PLoS Biol (2010) vol. 8 (3) pp. e EP - Model Credit: Tyler Keillor, photograph by Ximena Erickson, from
Barrett and Rayfield. Ecological and evolutionary implications of dinosaur feeding behaviour. Trends Ecol Evol (2006) vol. 21 (4) pp
H5N1 bird flu: phylogeography & evolution Wallace et al, 2007
©David Cannatella Ryan & Rand,
©David Cannatella Ryan & Rand,
speciation extinction ~net ~turnover Weir & Schluter, 2007
Stickleback species pair from Paxton Lake, British Columbia. Gravid benthic top, gravid limnetic bottom. Photo by Todd Hatfield, taken from
Wade. Group selections among laboratory populations of Tribolium. P Natl Acad Sci Usa (1976) vol. 73 (12) pp ©Alex Wild, Myrmecos.net
Molecular fossil Trace fossil Body fossil Phylogenetics Extant organisms Experiments Molecular fossil Trace fossil Body fossil Phylogenetics Extant organisms Experiments Think of macroevolutionary questions. Which source(s) of evidence would you use to address these?