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Speciation in the Deep Sea

Speciation in the Deep Sea Until the last 20 years, the deep sea (that vast portion of the world ocean below 200 m) was regarded as a region with few species, owing to its harsh biotic conditions ( 100 141). Its presumed lack of environmental turmoil, important for dynamic evolution, led some to believe that evolution was possible, but slow (19). Related to these hypotheses of slow evolution are ideas of the deep sea as a refuge for ancient forms (e.g. 162), and of its fauna as the product of migrations from shallow water (87, 99). Today the abyss is known to contain communities with impressively high numbers of species (see references in 1 12) and to serve as the site of evolution of important higher taxa (66). Generation of new species has been at least as active in the deep sea as in other biotic realms. What is known about speciation in the deep sea? Serious epistemological and technical problems hinder any study of speciation, and some are even more acute for deep-sea research. Nevertheless, speciation in deep-sea an­ imals has received some mention or discussion (e.g. 18, 19, 106, 158), but mostly without benefit of demonstrated facts. This review shows how http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics Annual Reviews

Speciation in the Deep Sea

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References (95)

Publisher
Annual Reviews
Copyright
Copyright 1987 Annual Reviews. All rights reserved
Subject
Review Articles
ISSN
0066-4162
DOI
10.1146/annurev.es.18.110187.001153
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Until the last 20 years, the deep sea (that vast portion of the world ocean below 200 m) was regarded as a region with few species, owing to its harsh biotic conditions ( 100 141). Its presumed lack of environmental turmoil, important for dynamic evolution, led some to believe that evolution was possible, but slow (19). Related to these hypotheses of slow evolution are ideas of the deep sea as a refuge for ancient forms (e.g. 162), and of its fauna as the product of migrations from shallow water (87, 99). Today the abyss is known to contain communities with impressively high numbers of species (see references in 1 12) and to serve as the site of evolution of important higher taxa (66). Generation of new species has been at least as active in the deep sea as in other biotic realms. What is known about speciation in the deep sea? Serious epistemological and technical problems hinder any study of speciation, and some are even more acute for deep-sea research. Nevertheless, speciation in deep-sea an­ imals has received some mention or discussion (e.g. 18, 19, 106, 158), but mostly without benefit of demonstrated facts. This review shows how

Journal

Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics – Annual Reviews

Published: Nov 1, 1987

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