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Integrative and Comparative Biology 2003 43(1):74-81; doi:10.1093/icb/43.1.74
© 2003 by The Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology
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Three Puzzles in Hierarchical Evolution1

Daniel W. McShea2,1 and Mark A. Changizi3,2
1 Department of Biology, Duke University, Box 90338, Durham, North Carolina 27708-0338
2 Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Duke University, Box 90086, Durham, North Carolina 27708-0086

The maximum degree of hierarchical structure of organisms has risen over the history of life, notably in three transitions: the origin of the eukaryotic cell from symbiotic associations of prokaryotes; the emergence of the first multicellular individuals from clones of eukaryotic cells; and the origin of the first individuated colonies from associations of multicellular organisms. The trend is obvious in the fossil record, but documenting it using a high-resolution hierarchy scale reveals three puzzles: 1) the rate of origin of new levels accelerates, at least until the early Phanerozoic; 2) after that, the trend may slow or even stop; and 3) levels may sometimes arise out of order. The three puzzles and their implications are discussed; a possible explanation is offered for the first.


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Home page
 PaleobiologyHome page
J. D. Marcot and D. W. McShea
Increasing hierarchical complexity throughout the history of life: phylogenetic tests of trend mechanisms
Paleobiology, March 1, 2007; 33(2): 182 - 200.
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