Re: Evolution in larger foraminifera

[Dave Lazarus <h0662bmt@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Ralf Gietl asked "How works evolution in larger foraminifera??".

Short answer - no one knows.  But more generally, the species definitions 
of Mayr are rather limiting. As you note, many protists - and many plants 
too - do not fit well within his concepts.  But speciation theory 
includes many alternatives, some of which are probably more appropriate 
for forams and other marine protists.

I (ahem) once wrote a short article on the subject of speciation in 
planktonic protists which might be at least partially relevant - perhaps 
tho more useful for the references it gives than for any ideas within it 
:-)

Lazarus, D.B., 1983.  Speciation in pelagic Protista and its study in the 
planktonic microfossil record: a review.  Paleobiology, 9(4):327-340.

The literature on evolution of plants is very interesting in this regard. 
 The works of Verne Grant and others in particular.

Regards,




--------------------------------------------------
Dr. David Lazarus

david.lazarus@rz.hu-berlin.de   or   h0662bmt@rz.hu-berlin.de
 
Post Address: Institut fuer Palaeontologie
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