By combining fossil occurrence data with social network analysis, researchers identified distinct associations of ancient marine animal life, and investigated how the representation of these communities changed over geologic time; the approach enabled the quantification of the ecological impacts of mass extinctions and other major ecological shifts, which are pertinent to unraveling the potential consequences of the present-day biodiversity crisis.
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Article #17-19976: "Quantifying ecological impacts of mass extinctions with network analysis of fossil communities," by A. D. Muscente et al.
MEDIA CONTACT: A. Drew Muscente, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA; tel: 540-200-5634; e-mail: < muscente@g.harvard.edu >, < a.d.muscente@gmail.com >
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences