Reefs as Cradles of Evolution and Sources of Biodiversity in the Phanerozoic

Abstract
Cradle of Diversity: Is the biological diversity of reefs a result of attracting species that originated elsewhere, or are they particularly important as cradles of evolution? Kiessling et al. (p. 196 ; see the cover) examine a large database of fossil benthic marine organisms dating back to the Cambrian to test these questions. It seems that reefs, even in comparison to other shallow marine environments, were indeed important during the origination of new species, including ones that migrate elsewhere.