Earth and life: origins of Phanerozoic diversity*

Abstract

The major patterns in the evolution of life during the Phanerozoic are reviewed. Critical transitions in the evolution of life that reflect increases in ecological complexity are the Cambrian radiation; the Ordovician biodiversification and its subsequent diversification and transition into the Modern Marine Fauna following the Permo-Triassic mass extinction; the colonisation of land, and its subsequent diversification; and the biological colonisation of the atmosphere. This increase in ecological diversity and complexity was often accompanied by increases in morphological complexity, arising, in part, from elaboration of the developmental program. However, it was additionally fuelled by increases in diversification and disparity arising also from morphological simplification in some lineages as developmental program became reduced.