Some comments on Van Valen's law of extinction
- 1 January 1975
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Cambridge University Press (CUP) in Paleobiology
- Vol. 1 (4) , 356-358
- https://doi.org/10.1017/s0094837300002657
Abstract
The linear survivorship curve of Van Valen's Law can be generated from stochastic loss of lineages, given a decreasing sample size within an adaptive zone. No special biological explanation is required or called for in order to explain “linearity” in taxonomic survivorship curves.Keywords
This publication has 3 references indexed in Scilit:
- Problems of Macroevolution (Molecular Evolution, Phenotype Definition, and Canalization) as Seen from a Hierarchical ViewpointAmerican Zoologist, 1975
- Taxonomic survivorship curves and Van Valen's LawPaleobiology, 1975
- Molecular evolution as predicted by natural selectionJournal of Molecular Evolution, 1974