Describing the evolution and perturbations to biodiversity using a simple dynamical model

TL;DR

This paper presents a simple mathematical model to describe the broad trends of biodiversity evolution over the Phanerozoic, incorporating perturbations from astrophysical events and classifying genera into short- and long-lived types.

Contribution

It introduces a coupled differential equation model that captures large-scale biodiversity trends and analyzes the impact of external perturbations using Green functions.

Findings

Broad biodiversity trends are well captured by the model.

Perturbations can significantly influence biodiversity evolution.

The model offers qualitative insights into the effects of astrophysical events.

Abstract

In this work, we outline a mathematical description of biodiversity evolution throughout the Phanerozoic based on a simple coupled system of two differential equations and on the division of genera in two classes - Short-lived and Long-lived types, as used by Rohde and Muller. We show that while the division in only two classes cannot capture the complexity of biodiversity evolution in short scales, broad trends can be described well. We also compute the systems' Green functions as a way to qualitatively describe the possible effects of intense perturbations of astrophyisical origin on the subsequent biodiversity evolution.