Patterns and Rates of Evolution in Two Lineages of Lower Devonian Conodonts

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9814354Roopnarine and MurphyDetailed stratigraphic sampling, comprehensive morphometric analysis, and fractal-based analysis of non-periodic time series will be combined to examine in detail the patterns and rates of microevolution of two Lower Devonian conodont genera, Icriodus and Ozarkodina, in Western North America. A new method of analysis based on random walks will be applied to character stratophenetic series of individual taxa to define different modes of microevolution. The relationship between evolutionary rate and mode will be examined by relating distributions of evolutionary rates to various modes. Finally, a model of character evolution will be constructed by comparing patterns of within-sample covariation to temporal patterns. Techniques, which maximize the quantity of information that can be derived from stratophenetic series, will enable us to eventually compile a database of microevolutionary patterns and rates for a broad range of taxa.