Abstract:
Models of Extinction: A Review
Drafts: [.ps.gz][.pdf]
We review recent work aimed at modelling species extinction over
geological time. We describe a number of models which, rather than
describing the direct causes of particular extinction events, attempt
to predict overall statistical trends, such as the relative frequencies
of large and small extinctions, or the distribution of the lifetimes of
species, genera or higher taxa. We also describe the available fossil
and other data, and compare the trends visible in these data with the
predictions of the models.
To be submitted: Philosophical Transactions B.
Last Updated: 14-Sep-99