Periodic extinction of families and genera
Raup DM and Sepkoski JJ. 1986. Periodic extinction of families and genera. Science. 231(4740):833-836
Eight major episodes of biological extinction of marine families over the past 250 million years stand significantly above local background (P < 0.05). These events are more pronounced when analyzed at the level of genus, and generic data exhibit additional apparent extinction events in the Aptian (Cretaceous) and Pliocene (Tertiary) stages. Time-series analysis of these records strongly suggests a 26-million year periodicity. This conclusion is robust even when adjusted for simultaneous testing of many trial periods. When the time series is limited to the four best-dated events (Cenomanian, Maestrichtian, upper Eocene, and middle Miocene), the hypothesis of randomness is also rejected for the 26-million-year period (P < 0.0002).
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Raup, David; Sepkoski, J
- Units
- BADL
- Keywords
- Cretaceous, Extinction, Geology, Marine Mammals, Paleontology, Tertiary